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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Ex police chief run over by squad car |
| 2005-06-30 |
| By Camillus Eboh ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's graft-tainted former police chief fell out of a squad car which then rolled over his legs Wednesday in a bizarre incident after a court ruled he would face a second trial on corruption charges. Tafa Balogun is accused of stealing and laundering $100 million in his three years as Inspector General of Police in one of the most high-profile cases resulting from a government crackdown on graft. He denies the accusations. Nope! wudnt me! Balogun is already facing trial on 50 charges brought by the government's anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Wednesday, a court in Abuja ruled he would face a second trial to cover further charges. Proceedings drifted into farce after the decision was read. I neresting phrase, "drifted into farce". Sounds to me like the whole thing is a farce, like a Marx Brothers movie. "Where's the money, you know dollas." "Dollas, my brother lives in dollas." "No, idjit, dollas as in taxes." "That's where he lives, Dollas Taxes." Police tried to drive Balogun away to complete bail formalities but his defense lawyer resisted and in the confusion Balogun was shoved into a police car which sped off before the doors were closed. A short distance away Balogun fell out of the car and the back wheels went over his legs. Na, couldn't be he was pushed. He returned to court, limping and covered in dust. "This is not a prosecution but a persecution. This is a vendetta," No, it was probably an old Buick.he told the court. He said he had a broken leg, and a booboo on my elbow, too although he was still able to stand. Just after speaking, Balogun apparently fainted and was carried out and taken to hospital. Got the vapors, did he? Rotimi Jacobs, who represented the EFCC at the court hearing, said the attempt to take Balogun away had been a mistake, while the judge called the police action "barbaric." Yea, it's another Gitmo! Where's AI? It was unclear whether there would be any repercussions. Balogun is one of the most senior figures facing prosecution in President Olusegun Obasanjo's anti-corruption drive. Two ministers and the president of the senate have lost their jobs. |
| Posted by:Deacon Blues |