As the sentencing of former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, commenced on Monday at the Southwark Crown Court 9, London, the prosecutor, Sasha Weils, told the court in her closing argument that Ibori was “a common thief.”
Weils told the court of how Ibori “systematically and deliberately defrauded his people during his tenure as governor of the oil-rich Delta State.”
“The amount James Ibori stole is unquantified. He is a common thief,” the prosecutor said.
After going through a reading of all the crimes Ibori committed since 1991, both in Nigeria and in the UK, Weils concluded that the magnitude of fraud perpetrated by Ibori would never be known.
The Prosecutor listed Ibori’s bank accounts as “6 in Barclay’s, 2 in Citi Bank and several in the Channel Islands”.
She added that “Ibori had made his four-month old son a director in one of his companies, a company used as a conduit to launder stolen money.”
The prosecution, also said he violated Section 182 and Section 181 (1) of the Nigerian constitution when he contested the governorship election less than 10years after he was jailed in the United Kingdom. Ibori was jailed in 1991 and 1992 in London.
Judge Anthony Pitts described Ibori’s several frauds as “sensational” and called for a recess soon after.
“It says on the details it’s ‘simply sensational.’ I’m inclined to agree with them,” he said.
When the court reconvened by 2pm, his defence counsel, Nicholas Pernell, prayed for a lenient sentence, blaming the Nigerian military for creating the conditions that lured Ibori into corruption.
In an attempt to secure a lenient sentencing for Ibori, his has lawyer just told the Crown Court that he was instrumental in securing the release of hostages in the Niger-Delta.
Judge Pitts, however, told Ibori’s counsel that he has not been called upon to make a judgment of Ibori’s achievements as governor as argued by his counsel but to make a judgment on the charges of corruption against him.
Supporters reportedly hired and transported by the Delta State Government reportedly caused disturbance at the sentencing, which necessitated the London Metropolitan policemen removing them from the court.
The court had invited uniformed policemen to sort out Ibori’s supporters , which led to the rowdy standoff.
The policemen and court officials attempted to control the crowd of Ibori’s supporters and journalists who wanted to gain access into the court.
All visitors were reportedly asked to to form a queue and write their names. But it led to more confusion as people struggled to get their names on a list.
The embattled former governor’s supporters were said to have insisted on gaining access to the courtroom, which could sit only a few people.
In the course of attempting to force their way into the courtroom, a staff of the court was said to have been pushed to the ground.
The police were said to have later allowed only 16 members of Ibori’s family and journalists to enter the court.
The hearing began at about 11.19am after James Ibori was brought in and the Judge came in to the court.
Ibori was brought into court at 11.15am wearing a grey suit, black tie and vest and was docked in a glass-covered cubicle.
He was said to be beaming with confidence.
Ibor’s sentencing has been shifted till Tuesday, April 17.
James Ibori had earlier pleaded guilty to a number of corruption and money laundering charges against him put at about $250m before Judge Pitts. This includes the V-Mobile and Bombardaire scams which amounted to $50m. Ibori and Victor Attah, former Akwa Ibom state governor also formed a phantom company called ADF to siphon US$37.5m from Delta and Akwa Ibom states’ shares in V-Mobile.
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Oduagha must learn from Ibori's woes. Stop stealing our monies as God will judge you all.
ReplyDeleteOsado Bright.
What shall it profit a man to steal people's Money and end up in prison? Think about this Nigerian leaders, a word us enough fir a wise. Thank u and God bless Nigeria
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame to Nigeria judicial system. That was the man set free on 1,000,000 count charges leveled against him. They must have been bribed as usual. UK Judiciary we thank you for correcting the corrupted Juries of Nigeria.This should be a learning point for Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteI think Ibori's case is a small one what about other past and present governors we did not know their evil deed. I suggested they should probe Tunubu, Gbenga Daniel very well and also look into their various foriegn accounts and other companies set all in the name of looting nigeria pause, God Almighty will judge our leaders and they will surely give account of their evil deeds on the last day and their children children will suffer shame and sorrow because they live the poor ones in abject of poverty.
ReplyDeleteDid you even read the part where the UK attorney quoted that Ibori contravened the Nigerian constitution. Yet we hailed a law breaker.
ReplyDelete"The prosecution, also said he violated Section 182 and Section 181 (1) of the Nigerian constitution when he contested the governorship election"
We in Nigerian don't even know our constitution to defend it and we are quick to enthrone miserable people as leaders
The problem of bad leadership comes from bad follower-ship because a leader was once a follower.
Imagine, Delta state govt. hired and transported supporters to give support to this criminal with pples money again, what a celebration of a true son of the soil. Naija na wa oo, PDP family. Poverty Development Party.
ReplyDeleteIbori is not only going to suffer for the money he stole but for imposing a bigger thief as governor on us.I will be glad to see uduaghan his cousin to follow suit because he is by far a worse thief.
ReplyDeleteThe law on immunity has allowed these governors to steal without blinking an eye. Ibori wouldnt have stolen that much if that law had not existed.
imagine making a 4-month old innocent child director of a company established with stolen money. You are only bringing cause on that child.
By the way what does foolish uduaghan trying to achieve by hiring supporters? Does he think Nigeria and UK are the same? Maybe he just want to impress his cousin. Bunch of fools.
Nigeria leaders irritates me.It is because of their corrupt act that made Dr Ngozi lost as president of world bank
Guys do you know that at the court session some Nigerians were there in support of James Ibori and wanted to stop the court session from going on?
ReplyDeleteIt beggars believe that at this day an age people are still in support of bad thing and cant come together to denounce a bad thing.
What legacy is these caliber of people laying down for their children?
We were calmouring for political change in Nigeria that the old politicians should go and leave the scene for the new breeds. Ibori happens to be among the so called NEW BREEDs and what was the result?
Who can we trust now in Nigeria?
What shall it profit a man to steal "so much of his people's money" and ended up in jail? Vanity upon vanity all is vanity.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the Briish govt doing over 10 years ago when these people have been moving in Nigeria' s money to help boost their economy. When there is crisis concerning such person that is when they will now reveal all the facts concealed in their system.
Shame to UK. There are hundreds of other African leaders who they are enjoying their loots at the moment what are they doing to those ones? Absolutely nothing. UK govt is wicked, they encourage the African leaders
looting activities as they receive them and their loots into
the system, African people shd rise against this UK
practice of abhorring looters, political Thieves around d world
Please someone tell me which of the James Onanefe Ibori's has been convicted this time. We might yet see a third one resurface in Nigerian politics in the not too distant future.
ReplyDelete