Shame EFCC says Ibori will still another face trial in Nigeria

After failing to get a conviction on a 110 count charge in Nigeria, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said ex-Governor James Ibori will still face trial in Nigeria after serving a 13-year term in a UK Prison. 
It also said with the conviction of Ibori by the Southwark Court in London, Nigeria’s judicial process needs to be reassessed. 


The EFCC spoke in a statement in Abuja by its Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren. 
The statement said: “The EFCC received with happiness news of the conviction of former Governor of Delta State, Mr. James Ibori, who was this morning sentenced to a 13-year jail term by a Southwark Crown Court in London. 
“The Commission welcomes the conviction, which is the icing on a tortuous investigative and legal odyssey for all actors involved in the Ibori saga. 


“It is reassuring that today’s sentencing of Ibori was based on the foundation of the case built by the EFCC in 2007 which, unfortunately, was thrown out by the Federal High court, Asaba for lack of merit. 
“The same fate has lately befallen other EFCC cases, notably the Erastus Akingbola, Ndudi Elumelu, Dimeji Bankole and Gbenga Daniel matters. They were all thrown out by the courts, purely on technical grounds, without consideration of the substantive issues. 
“The fact that a case which supposedly lacked merit in Nigeria could fetch a 13-year jail term in the UK after a landmark guilt plea brings to fore the need for a reassessment of the nation’s justice delivery process. We must strengthen our judicial institutions, if we are to make any headway in the anti- graft efforts. 


“More interesting to the Commission in the Ibori conviction is the opportunity for the repatriation of the array of properties and assets amassed overseas by the convict. 
“Once again, his fate has proven that there is no safe haven abroad for politically – exposed persons who looted state funds entrusted in their care. 
“The Commission expects Ibori to serve his term in the UK and return to Nigeria to face other criminal charges pending in courts, arising from his eight-year rule of Delta State.
“The EFCC wishes to restate the fact that the offence for which Ibori was jailed in London is only a fraction of the array of criminal infractions committed by the former governor. 


“The Commission remains committed in its determination to bring Ibori and other alleged corrupt politically exposed persons and corporate titans to book in Nigeria, no matter how long it takes.”

James Ibori Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison in UK

James Ibori, former governor of Delta state has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for corruption and money laundering charges at the Southwark Crown Court 9 in London. His sentence was announced at about 3.20pm yesterday by Judge Anthony Pitts. Earlier on, his lawyers had tried to make a case for a lenient sentencing.

His lawyer, Nicholas Pernell blamed Badrash Gohil and former Akwa Ibom state governor, Victor Attah, for the V-Mobile scam saying they were the architects of the fraud. He further credited his client with every development in Nigeria, and especially in Delta state, from the banking reforms, to peace in the Niger Delta, education, and building of low-cost housing. Also in hid defence, he stated that his client, James Ibori, played a part in supporting British industry even before he became governor. As evidence, he cited a letter from British Airways, thanking Ibori for restoring direct flights between Nigeria and Britain.

Mr. Pernell, in his conclusion, asked the Judge to consider the pressure that his client has been under since investigatons began in 2005, and also the accused’s children who now have both their parents in custody before passing his sentence. Also in his defence, veteran sportsman, John Fashanu, made an appearance in the court yesterday.

He testified saying the former governor achieved a lot in sports, and was instrumental to the end of militancy in the state. He told the court that Ibori built nine mini- sports stadia and three Olympic-sized stadia in Delta state and also built the first shooting range in Nigeria. The court went for a recess at about 12.30pm and reconvened at 2.25pm after which his sentence was read. James Ibori had earlier pleaded guilty to a number of corruption and money laundering charges against him put at about $250million before Judge Pitts. This includes the V-Mobile and Bombardaire scams which amounted to $50million.

Ibori and Victor Attah, former Akwa Ibom state governor also formed a phantom company called ADF to siphon US$37.5million from Delta and Akwa Ibom states’ shares in V- Mobile. He was accused of embezzling these funds during his tenure as governor and using most of them to live a lavish lifestyle and acquire property and assets around the world. Judge Pitts said that the sentencing will not be the end of the matter as his property will also be confiscated.

Ibori gets 13years in jail

In the last few minutes, a Southwark Crown Court in London has sentenced James Ibori, former governor of Delta state to thirtheen years in prison on 10 counts of crime bothering on fraud and money laundering.



At the resumption of the sentencing on Tuesday, with several Nigerians inside the court room to show their support for the former Delta State governor, amongst whom was former footballer and member of the Nigerian Football federation, John Fashanu. At 11:05am the court resumed sitting with the court clerk requesting everyone within switch off all mobile devices, and not long afterwards James Ibori was brought into the court room by the bailiff.

Ibori's Counsel, Nicholas Pernell started by telling the court that Ibori was not to be blamed for the V-mobile telecommunications scam, but all the blames should be laid at the feet of Gohil, his past lawyer and the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State Victor Attah.The lawyer further went ahead to publicly declare that the former governor was responsible for supporting British industry even as far back as before he became governor, however Ibori's countenance did seem not too impressed as his gaze was constantly shifty and a scowl constantly surfaced on his face. Probably in order to impress his client, Mr. Pernell told the court house that Ibori was responsible for all the development in Nigeria, including the banking reforms to Attention of Low-cost houses and the shaky peace that currently exists in the Niger Delta today.

To support his assertions of Ibori's meek nature, Pernell called upon Fashanu to tell the court of this good side of Ibori seldom seen and reported. Fashanu duly proceeded to informing the court that Ibori build the first shooting range in the country. He also added that he built 12 stadia across Delta state during his time as governor, thereby helping the careers of Nigerian soccer players such as Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha and current Nigerian coach, Stephen Keshi, who had long hung his playing boots before Ibori became governor. At 12:30pm, the Judge had heard enough from the defense team and called for a 2 hour recess period.

On resumption the judge pointed out that the sentence was not the end of the trial as the British legal system was also going to confiscate the properties of James Ibori in the UK.

Prosecution on Monday shockingly revealed at the sentencing of James Ibori that there was no plea-bargain but a voluntary confession of crimes committed by the accused. The sentencing of former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, commenced today with a large turnout outside the Southwark Crown Court 12. The crowd was alleged to have been rented by the Delta State government to give support to the Ibori and they were quite unruly, with a part of the crowd harrasing an official of the Nigerian High Commission just outside the court. The London Met police had to deploy 20 armed personnel to disperse and restore order. The defendant, James Ibori, clad in a black suit and a gold watch was brought into at 11:11am and he seemed in a favourable disposition waving at his family members sitted at a part of the courtroom.

The prosecutor in her closing statements described Ibori as a 'common thief' and declared that "The amount of money James Ibori stole is unquantified". She went through a list of the crimes committed by Ibori in the UK and Nigeria, dating as far back as 1991. She went ahead to list the several bank accounts held by the defendant including 6 in Barclays, 2 in Citi Bank and several othersin the Channel Island, accusing Ibori of listing his 4-month old baby as a director in one of the companies he allegedly used to defraud the oil-rich Delta State.

The lead prosecutor also accused Ibori of colluding with another former governor, Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom State, of forming a phantom company called ADF which they used in siphoning over US$37 million from Akwa-Ibom and Delta State's shares in V-Mobile Telecommunications. Astonishingly, the prosecutor told the court that there was no plea bargain but a honest and voluntary admission of guilt by James Ibori.

Counsel for the defendant, Nicholas Pernell, agreed with the submission of the prosecution that Indeed the amount siphoned in the V-mobile and Bombardaire scams amounted to over $50million, but rather pointed out that the Nigerian Military was responsible for creating conditions that encouraged Ibori to perpetuate the corruption crimes he was accused of.

Pernell urged the court to temper justice with mercy, and in an attempt to show the soft side of Ibori, he declared that the former governor was responsible for gaining freedom for several hostages held in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria.