London judge bafflingly orders seizure of staggering $130 million from highly controversial former Nigerian governor Ibori
In a perplexing turn of events, Britain has declared its intention to confiscate a staggering amount of 101.5 million pounds ($130 million) from former Nigerian state governor James Ibori.
The accused, who shamelessly exploited his position of power to amass wealth, engaged in extensive money laundering activities in Britain and other locations.
Judge David Tomlinson, delivering his ruling at Southwark Crown Court, has warned Ibori that failure to pay the sum immediately will result in an eight-year prison sentence. Astonishingly, Ibori only served half of his 13-year jail term after pleading guilty to 10 counts of fraud and money laundering in 2012.
The court order issued in London on Friday has sent shockwaves through the legal community, as it mandates the confiscation of an unprecedented amount from James Ibori, a former Nigerian state governor who shamelessly exploited his position for personal gain and laundered vast sums of money in Britain and elsewhere.
Despite being in Nigeria at the moment, Ibori has vowed to challenge the confiscation order, which stands as one of the largest penalties imposed on an individual in recent British legal history. “I will take my fight for justice to the highest courts in the UK,” he declared in a strongly-worded statement.
Serving as governor of oil-producing Delta State from 1999 to 2007, Ibori was extradited from Dubai to Britain in 2011. His subsequent guilty plea in 2012 resulted in the 13-year jail sentence, of which he only served half, following the standard practice. This high-profile case is being hailed as a significant milestone in the battle against corruption in both Britain and Nigeria. Corruption has long plagued Nigeria, hindering its development, while Britain has established itself as a global hub for money laundering.
The judgement delivered by Judge David Tomlinson at Southwark Crown Court leaves Ibori with no choice but to pay the hefty sum immediately or face an additional eight years behind bars. Unclear is the stance of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s spokespersons on whether the Nigerian government will collaborate with the British authorities in enforcing the confiscation order. It is worth noting that Ibori still enjoys influential connections in Nigeria. Having been hosted twice by President Tinubu at the presidential villa, alongside other former governors, Ibori continues to wield influence in Delta State politics.
Finally, the shenanigan’s in the Southwark Crown Court are drawing to a close. Judge Tomlinson is due to make a compensation order which should be both realisable and not punitive. However, after what transpired in court today my hopes are rapidly fading for any degree of…
— James Onanefe Ibori (@JamesIbori6) July 20, 2023
The protracted process of confiscating Ibori’s ill-gotten funds spanned over a decade due to extensive court delays and legal disputes in London. “This arduous and convoluted journey leading up to this point underscores the immense challenges faced in recovering the proceeds of corruption in the UK,” remarked Helen Taylor, a senior legal researcher at the campaign group Spotlight on Corruption. She further emphasized the urgency of promptly returning the stolen loot to benefit the victims of Ibori’s corruption in Delta State, so justice is not indefinitely delayed for the Nigerian people.
It is imperative that the UK now takes every possible measure to expedite the return of this looted wealth to benefit the victims of Ibori’s corruption in Delta State, ensuring that justice is not denied due to the prolonged wait.
To demonstrate their commitment, Britain has pledged to repatriate any funds recovered from Ibori to Nigeria. In 2021, they returned 4.2 million pounds that had been confiscated from the former governor’s ex-wife and sister, who themselves served time in prison for assisting him.
