Ex-governor has been released from prison

monjola sotubo

December 21, 2016 1:42 PM

Former Delta State governor, James Ibori was released today, December 21, 2016, following a court order to that effect.

Former Delta State governor,

Ibori was released today, December 21, 2016, following a court order to that effect, Vanguard reports.

The former governor’s release has been confirmed by his media aide, Tony Elumenor.

Ibori was, on Tuesday, April 17, 2012, sentenced to 13 years in prison by the Southwark Crown Court of the United Kingdom after pleading guilty to ten counts of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud.

He was arrested in Dubai on May 13, 2010, on an international warrant after being declared wanted by the UK Metropolitan Police.

Ibori was subsequently extradited to the UK in April 2011, and tried on 23 counts of money laundering, forgery, and fraud.

He was accused of laundering up to 200 million pounds but he only admitted to taking 50 million pounds.

Ibori’s sentence was commuted to six and a half years and further reduced to four and a half years after the 645 days he had already spent in detention was taken into account.

News of his impending return has caused excitement in his hometown of Oghara in Delta State, where he is known as the “Odidigborigbo of Africa.”

ALSO READ: Okowa allegedly using state funds to boost Ibori’s business

Ibori was the Governor of Delta from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007 and is believed to have also influenced the choice of his successor, Emmanuel Udaghan and current governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.

monjola sotubo