The Court of Appeal’s ruling against James Ibori, a former governor of oil-producing Delta State in southern Nigeria, is a relief for the British authorities at a time when they are trying to stem the flow of dirty money from overseas through London.
Ibori, who in his heyday was one of Nigeria’s richest and most powerful men, pleaded guilty in a London court in 2012 to 10 counts of fraud and money-laundering involving sums amounting to at least 50 million pounds ($66 million).
He received a 13-year jail sentence of which he served half, as is common in the British system, and is now back in Nigeria.
Anti-corruption campaigners had hailed the case as a milestone for Nigeria, where no one of his stature had been successfully prosecuted, and for its former colonial ruler Britain, long seen as too complacent about the proceeds of Nigerian corruption being laundered in the UK.
Ibori owned multi-million-pound homes in Britain, South Africa and United States, including an English country house near the private school where his children were being educated. He also owned a Jaguar and a Bentley and was buying a $20-million private jet at the time of his arrest.
Wednesday’s ruling will allow Britain to resume efforts to confiscate millions of dollars’ worth of assets and return them to Nigerian public coffers. The assets have been frozen for years while the case has been dragging through the courts.from reuters
Very good.
ReplyDeleteHe thinks it's Nigeria where anything goes
This was Nuhu Ribadu's baby;
ReplyDeleteThis was when Nigeria fought corruption; during obj's regime. A governor in his own party was captured, all his dirty linen given to the British government by Ribadu's EFCC, prosecuted, and jailed!
Tafa Balogun of police was another one; he served his own in Naija jail. And who again, e he; Alamesigha etc.
These days, the ruling party members are all shielded.
His first case under OBJ was dismissed. This one that got him jailed was when GEJ reopened his file. They were all selective fighting of corruption.
DeleteThe same Alamesiegha that GEJ grated presidential pardon.
DeleteThe rich also cry. Hope the proceeds won't end up like others.
ReplyDelete