Nigeria: Ibori’s legal team to appeal sentence

The legal team of the former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori is to appeal the 13 years sentence handed him by a London court last week.
A reliable member of the team and a Warri- based legal practitioner, who does not want his name in print, told Vanguard exclusively, that the judgment of the court sentencing Chief Ibori to a prison term of four years and nine months was against the spirit and letter of the plea bargain reached with the prosecution.
According to him, by the agreement, Chief Ibori was expected to be a free man in 2014, adding that the terms of agreement were breached and they would appeal the sentence any moment from now.
He said that after Ibori had served out his term in the UK, they would be prepared to battle Economic and Financial Crimes, EFCC, that had said it would file more charges against the former governor in Nigeria.

James Ibori Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison in UK Court

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 today by Judge Anthony Pitts.

Earlier on, his lawyers had tried to make a case for a lenient sentencing.  His lawyer, Nicholas Pernellblamed 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 his 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 today. 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.

News Source: Daily Times

The rise and fall of James Ibori

• 1958: Born in Delta state, UK police believe, saying he previously lied about his age
• 1980s: Moved to UK
• 1991: Convicted of stealing from UK DIY shop Wickes
• 1992: Convicted of credit card fraud
• 1993-4: Allies himself to Nigeria's then military ruler Sani Abacha
• 1999: Elected Delta state governor
• 2007: Stepped down as governor
• 2007: UK assets worth $35m frozen
• December 2007: Arrested in Nigeria on corruption charges
• 2009: Nigeria court dismisses charges
• April 2010: Ibori's supporters attack police as they try to arrest him
• May 2010: Arrested in Dubai
• 2011: Extradited to UK
• 2012: Pleads guilty to money-laundering in London court

UK aid funded firms 'linked to Nigeria fraudster Ibori'

Britain's Department for International Development is accused of allowing tens of millions of pounds in UK aid to be invested in Nigerian money laundering fronts, BBC Newsnight has learned.

An equity fund backed by DfID-owned subsidiary CDC Group is being investigated by Nigerian officials.
The accusation is that the private fund invested in companies linked to convicted money-launderer James Ibori.
DfID says CDC carries out thorough checks before investing in funds.
Ibori, a former governor of Nigeria's oil-rich Delta States, who looted millions from state coffers, is due to be sentenced by a UK court having pleaded guilty to 10 counts of money-laundering and conspiracy to defraud.
As his trial at London's Southwark Crown Court was about to begin in February 2012, Mr Ibori changed his plea to guilty and admitted stealing money from Delta State and laundering it in London through a number of offshore companies.
DfID spent £5m investigating the case, the world's biggest money-laundering scam ever brought to justice, and Ibori's network - which spanned four continents.
Ibori had secret accounts and companies in London, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Polynesia, Panama, the Marshall Islands and South Africa.
Whistleblower revealed But it is the alleged front companies in Nigeria which have cast a shadow over British aid.

CDC Group, the private enterprise arm of DfID, is said to have put $47.5m (£29.9m) into a private equity fund which invested in Nigerian companies allegedly linked to Ibori.

CDC is overseen by the development secretary, Andrew Mitchell.
In January, Mr Mitchell issued an unreserved apology to an Anglo-Nigerian whistleblower after Newsnight revealed DfID had betrayed his identity to the people he was accusing.
Dotun Oloko had warned DfID about potential problems with CDC investments. The department passed a document containing Mr Oloko's name to the private equity firm he had accused of investing in potential corruption.
He then became the target of private investigators hired by the firm who followed his children to school and looked into his personal and business affairs in the UK and Nigeria.
Mr Oloko told Newsnight he is delighted the Nigerian anti-corruption squad is now examining the issue.
He also pointed to the fact that Britain's development agency now stands accused of investing in the very corruption it has spent years helping to investigate.
"That's the incredible paradox. The same people who've funded the prosecution are the people who've funded the activities which are now being investigated," he said.
DfID issued the following statement in response to Newsnight's report:
"These specific allegations date back to 2009 under the last Labour government and were investigated by CDC at the time and subsequently passed on to the Met Police and the Serious Fraud Office.
"CDC always carries out full and thorough checks before investing in a fund manager and the subsequent investigation gives no indication that British funding has been misused in this case."
Watch Peter Marshall's full report on Newsnight on Monday 16 April 2012 at 10.30pm on BBC Two, then afterwards on the BBC iPlayer and Newsnight website.