Why ex-governor can’t return to Nigeria yet

Ibori was jailed in the United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 after pleading guilty to ten counts of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud.

He was released today, December 21, 2016, following a court order to that effect.

However, despite being freed from prison, Ibori might not be able to return to Nigeria yet.

This is due to a pending case concerning the confiscation of his assets worth tens of millions of dollars.

He will also be expected to report to the Police once a week and is currently restricted to his St. John’s Wood residence.

Ibori will return to court in January 2017 for the determination of the assets confiscation case following an order from presiding Judge, Mrs. Justice May.

The former governor 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.”

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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.