A Nigerian politician who was jailed in Britain for laundering tens of millions of dollars in stolen public funds through British banks and properties lost an appeal against his conviction in London on Wednesday.
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 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.
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 on British soil.
Despite his guilty pleas, Ibori, who is now back in Nigeria, appealed against his conviction alleging that one of the London police officers who had investigated him was himself corrupt and that the prosecution had covered that up.
Three senior appeal judges said the corruption of the police officer was not proven but in any case it was irrelevant to Ibori’s conviction because if it had happened, he had instigated it.
“If (the policeman) was corrupt, Ibori was the instigator or at the very least intimately involved in any such corruption,” their written ruling said.
“Regardless of any disclosure failures on the part of the Crown (prosecutors), Ibori was thoroughly informed on this topic prior to his pleas of guilty.”
The ruling will allow British prosecutors to resume efforts to confiscate tens of 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.
During his eight years in office, Ibori enjoyed a jet-setting lifestyle, buying multi-million dollar properties in England, South Africa and the United States as well as a Bentley, a Jaguar and other luxury cars. At the time of his arrest, he was in the process of buying a $20-million Bombardier private jet.
GUYS, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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FACEBOOK COMMENTS
View previous comments…Ovwohwo Kevwe
Among all dis he did he still remain d best governor deltans hv had all dis yrs...u dare not say evil against him to most deltans dey will eat u raw lol some said dey don't mind re-electing him again if it's possible as governor...we luv him still💝 I just pray God see him thru.,.
Endy Edeson
@Kevwe: really? well, politics is a game of interest. People see him differently @Libra; lolz
Vivian Otono
If only we can brave up and put the likes of ibori to the open. Nigeria will b a better place ooo.. hmmm politics na wah
Olufemi Adekunle Rotty
Idiot pleaded guilty and was convicted, Eze na you go explain wetin be the basis of his appeal when he pleaded guilty during trial, goat chop him mouth dat time?
Prince Raheem Samod Babatunde
And yet, many still thinks Buari is the problem. If i'm the president, i will still jail him here.
Osayomo Moses
If you never stay Delta State, you nor go know. I was born in Delta, I grow up in Delta and I am still living in Delta. I bet you out of every 100 deltans about 95 still love ibori die. Ibori leadership and development skill speak loud and clear in Delta and still remain what deltans are enjoying till date. He problem start when he get beef with the big guns of politics during Jonathan time. There have never be any governor like him in Delta after his tenure. Ex governor Uduaghan ( presently APC senatorial candidate) worse pass am, yet APC dey celebrate am for decamping to their party) even present governor okowa is the worst. Every politician in Nigeria get Skeleton for their cupboard, nobody go know until you get beef with those powerful than you. Ibori can be rated by non Deltans (who have never lived in Delta but only read about him) as 100% corrupt but to most Deltans, he is 100% best leader so far. Ask Deltans or come stay Delta to know more about the man ibori.
Sorry say I used pidgin, but that is my view about him.
Sorry say I used pidgin, but that is my view about him.
Atoyebi Abass Akinloye
Osayomo MosesOsayomo,he's just unfortunate among politicians but all Nigerian politicians should be facing trial today but our judicial system has fail us.
Luvlaura Mühlfenzl
Corruption is our leaders nd ibori betrayed his country ,am from delta state and the governor is from my tribe,but ibori is the best governor Delta state has ever had so far. I don't play leadership base on tribes or title but base on what u 've done 4 ur people regardless of tribes.
May God lead us to the right leaders.
May God lead us to the right leaders.
