REUTERS/Estelle Shirbon/File Photo
In a significant development, the British court has issued a confiscation order worth £101.5 million ($130 million) against James Ibori, a former Nigerian state governor known for abusing his office for personal gain and laundering millions in the UK and other countries. The court order, issued in London on Friday, seeks to seize the ill-gotten wealth accumulated by Ibori during his time in power.
Timeline of James Ibori’s Complex Legal and Political Journey:
Early Run-ins with the Law in Britain
In the early 1990s, Ibori and his wife, Theresa Ibori, lived in London, where he briefly worked as a shop assistant at a Wickes home improvements chainstore. However, legal trouble found them when the couple was arrested for attempting to steal goods from the store, resulting in convictions for theft and fines.
Ibori faced further legal troubles in London when he was caught in possession of stolen goods, including another person’s American Express card, at Euston train station.
Political Ascent in Nigeria
Later in the 1990s, Ibori established a close friendship with Major Hamza al-Mustapha, who served as Chief Security Officer to General Sani Abacha, the military dictator of Nigeria at the time. This connection paved the way for Ibori’s entry into politics and business.
In 1999, as Nigeria transitioned to democracy following Abacha’s demise, Ibori was elected as the governor of Delta State, a prominent oil-producing region in Nigeria. He served two consecutive four-year terms and stepped down in May 2007.
Corruption Investigation Unfolds
Starting in 2005, Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) joined forces with London’s Metropolitan Police to investigate Ibori’s alleged corruption and money laundering activities.
The investigation uncovered numerous properties secretly owned by Ibori in Britain, South Africa, and the United States, as well as evidence of his extravagant lifestyle, including exorbitant spending on luxury hotels, shopping, restaurants, and nightclubs, all funded by American Express credit cards.
Allegations of a $15 Million Bribe
During the investigation, the then EFCC Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, claimed that Ibori offered him a $15 million bribe in April 2007 to halt the inquiry. Ribadu, however, pretended to accept the bribe and instead deposited the cash at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Ibori denied these allegations in statements to Nigerian media, but he declined to be cross-examined in the British court. On the other hand, Ribadu testified under oath in a London court, and British judges accepted his testimony as credible.
Extradition, Imprisonment, and Return
In 2010, Ibori left Nigeria for Dubai to evade authorities. However, upon the request of the British government, he was eventually extradited to London in 2011 and subsequently sentenced to 13 years in jail after pleading guilty to 10 charges of fraud and money laundering at London’s Southwark Crown Court in 2012. His conviction was seen as a significant victory in the fight against corruption.
In December 2016, Ibori was released from prison after serving half of his sentence and returned to Nigeria in early 2017, where he received a warm welcome from cheering supporters in Delta State.
Challenges in Asset Confiscation
Since 2013, British prosecutors have been working to confiscate Ibori’s assets; however, the process has faced numerous setbacks due to parallel legal actions and court delays initiated by Ibori and his co-defendants, who were convicted of assisting in his money laundering schemes.
Despite allegations of corruption within the ranks of the Metropolitan Police, Court of Appeal judges dismissed the claims and upheld the convictions in 2018.
This marks a crucial chapter in James Ibori’s intricate legal and political history, with the British court taking steps to recoup the funds amassed through corrupt practices during his tenure as a state governor in Nigeria.
Source: Reuters
