10-year jail term likely for Ibori

Former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, currently standing trial in a London court for money laundering, stealing and sundry offences, may get nothing less than 10-year jail term, going by his previous criminal record and the enormity of the charges against him, National Mirror has reliably learnt.

An informed source, who is a Queens Counsel, a senior member of the English Bar, exclusively told National Mirror last night that no amount of protests would change the tide in favour of Ibori, whose criminal records have been established both in England and in Nigeria. “There is nothing absolute in life, especially in law, but going by the enormity of the charges against him, there is no point telling you now that he won’t go to jail. I can place my 37 years of practice at the bar on the line that he will go to jail for a long time.

You see, his tricks of claiming illness and political persecution will not work in the law courts in Britain’’ The revelation came just as it was learnt that the Presidency is favourably disposed to keeping Ibori behind bars throughout Jonathan’s tenure. The next hearing comes up next month for Ibori, who is being kept at the Wandsworth Prison, in South-West London.

The UK source explained that current trend in the international politics which is against leaders who divert funds and confine their people to penury will actually work against Ibori especially when the law frowns at the practice and the fact that Ibori’s associates have already been convicted for being accomplices. ‘’The evidence to nail him is clear. His wife is there; his solicitor and girl friend and another family member cannot go to jail in isolation. Their convictions mean he has to go too. It is simple.” Ibori is at the moment in confinement for charges of corruption, money laundering and stealing of public funds.

He is also battling about 70 criminal charges in a British court noted for its uprightness and firmness in enforcing the criminal penal code. His wife, Theresa is presently serving a five-year jail term in a British prison while his lawyer Bhadresh Gohil, was also handed a seven-year jail term by the Southwalk Crown Court on March this year. He was first charged on April 16, 2011 at the City of Westminster’s magistrate court where he was slammed with 25 counts of fraud, money laundering and conspiracy. He is to appear before the court again on September 5.

Sources said Ibori, fondly called Ogidigborigbo, by his friends and supporters, is said to have lost the protection of the Federal Government, which has insisted that the law should take its full course, in a move by President Goodluck Jonathan to project himself and his government to the international community as believers in due process. The former governor regarded as an ex-convict even in Nigeria in certain quarters is at the moment not enjoying any respite from government unlike the influence he enjoyed during the tenure of President Umar Yar ‘Ádua. Ibori reportedly has a long list of convictions and criminal activities dating back to his early days in Britain where he along with his wife, then his girlfriend, known as Theresa Nakanda, allegedly operated a modern day ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ criminal team.

The duo allegedly went on fraud and criminal activities that eventually resulted in various convictions in 1991 and 1992. His wife, now Theresa Nkoyo-Ibori, was first convicted in London in 1990, according to UK court’s documents. Ibori was twice convicted for stealing and dishonest acts by UK courts in 1991 and 1992. In his first trial, the then girlfriend (now wife), Theresa Nakanda, was convicted along with Ibori on January 25, 1991 at the Isleworth Crown Court in London. In that trial, Nakanda, who gave her date of birth as January 5, 1968, was convicted on two counts and was fined 300 and 450 pounds. James Ibori, who, according to court documents, gave his 28, 2005 by a certain, Mallam Awwal Yusuf, who testified against Ibori in court.

As the governor, Ibori was said to have diverted over 300m pounds into his personal accounts. Because of the immunity that he enjoyed as a governor and his perceived closeness to the late President Yar’Adua, he was seen to be untouchable until the early morning of Wednesday, December 12, 2007, when the Mallam Nuhu Ribadu-led EFCC trailed him to the Kwara State Governor‘s Lodge in Abuja where he was reportedly taking refuge and was arrested. Ibori, before then had been on the run from the London Metropolitan Police where he was declared wanted for corruption and money laundering activities. Efforts by the London Met to prosecute him had been stalled by perceived non-cooperation of the Federal Government, leading to insinuations that he was enjoying government‘ s protection.

The case however suffered a setback when the Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna transferred it to Asaba, Delta State, where it said the alleged offences were committed. This irked some elders from the state led by a former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark. They alleged that there were fears that the Federal Government was not serious in prosecuting Ibori. Clark, who spoke with newsmen in Abuja on the matter, deplored the way the government was going about the Ibori case, which was then pending at the Federal High Court, Asaba. He had said, “Every attempt is being made by various organisations or members of the Federal Government to thwart the trial of Ibori from taking its normal cause The petition, which was dated March 8, was addressed to the commission‘ s chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri.

They demanded the commission to find out whether it was right to use the state government‘s shares to obtain N44bn private loan from a bank. According to them, there was evidence that shares worth N528.010m in Oceanic Bank belonging to Delta State Government was used to guarantee over N44bn granted Ascot Offshore Nigeria Limited by Intercontinental Bank plc. It was this fresh petition that made the antigraft agency to declare Ibori wanted. Chief Kayode Ajulo, lawyer to Clark said that what was necessary for Ibori to provide answers to salient questions on whether he actually used Oceanic Bank shares belonging to the state government as collateral to Intercontinental Bank for the benefit of Ascot Offshore Nig. Limited, his private company and if he also authorised the sale of the shares to liquidate the loan to Intercontinental Bank.

A reliable source, who spoke from Abuja yesterday, disclosed that the Presidency was monitoring the Ibori case closely and “judging by his involvement in the activities of recent years, and the unbecoming roles he played, we will not be eager to have him released to Nigeria.”

http://nationalmirroronline.net/news/18371.html

When his lesser co-conspirators have bagged stiff sentences what should one expect , other than around 10 years, for the mastermind who made everything possible?

Gbawe:

When his lesser co-conspirators have bagged stiff sentences what should one expect , other than around 10 years, for the mastermind who made everything possible?

If the claim that Jonathan is making arrangements for Ibori to be brought to Nigeria to serve his jail term then 10years may just be a joke in Nigeria

Bintus2much:

If the claim that Jonathan is making arrangements for Ibori to be brought to Nigeria to serve his jail term then 10years may just be a joke in Nigeria

I doubt this can happen. Little known to most folks is that Ibori has British citizenship also. For all intents and purposes , Ibori is being tried for money laundering crimes against his own Country (the UK) and not only for crimes a Nigerian Governor has committed against the UK.

Gbawe:

I doubt this can happen. Little known to most folks is that Ibori has British citizenship also. For all intents and purposes , Ibori is being tried for money laundering crimes against his own Country (the UK) and not only for crimes a Nigerian Governor has committed against the UK.

Hmmm lets see how the drama unfolds.

this man is a criminal, he should be locked away for good.

another super story in the making

Another film script for Nollywood.

Good News

the end of the wicked!!!

Let him go a spend a good time there.

sexkillz:

LIKELY? Likely means they are not SURE! I'll come back when they are sure!

While sentencing is still entirely at the discretion of the judge who has to look at the guidelines , I personally doubt that Ibori will get less than 5 year going by the prison sentences recieved by his co-defendants . Ibori , as the mastermind, will certainly get more jail time than the highest jail sentence recieved by those who assisted him. I am happy for Ibori to get 5 years or more considering that his ilk , like Igbinedion, get away with fines in Nigeria while many , eg Odili, openly and blatantly compromise the judicial system so that they never see the inside of a Court room .

bad newz

Now thats a country that respects d rule of law; tell me wasnt it the same Ibori that was acquitted of all 40 count charges by d Nigerian judicial system. Now u understand y Nigeria 2getha with its legal professionals is constantly an international laughing stock!
i wish he could be sent to serve d term in alagbon or kirikiri where he would meet those whose lives he wrecked by embezellement forcing them to a life of crime

This Ibori case don tire me ooh.

It would be nice to finally see the end of this matter and see Ibori behind bars paying for his crimes, it has dragged on for too long.

If he is indeed jailed for 10 years, he will probably be released after 5 years and be placed under curfew for the rest of his sentence.

To show you how corrupt the Nigerian judicial system is, a Federal High Court judge personally testified before the Supreme Court in 2002 that he was the one who convicted a James Onanefe Ibori in 1994 for fraud. The Supreme Court still went ahead and ruled that there was "no evidence" that the James Onanefe Ibori convicted in 1994 by that high court judge was the same James Onanefe Ibori whose case was before it.

The case was prosecuted by the late Gani Fawehinmi. Nuhu Ribadu testified to how Ibori tried to bribe him with 15 million dollars in cash to discontinue his corruption case. The money is currently with the CBN as exhibit. And yet this is the same Ibori that former attorney general Michael Aondokaa went to London to testify that he had no case to answer in Nigeria. I shake my head for our country. Our judiciary is as corrupt as our politicians.

Our judiciary is as corrupt as our politicians.

Since,

the kind of justice we give here is a clear evidence of how corrupt our justice can be. why did jonathan brought back ribadu and el rufai and forced the nigerian police and other related authorities to drop all charges against them? both players played for obasanjo bombers while ibori was not a loyalist. was ibori the only corrupt gov during his time? the answer is no but why are the others not receiving the same treatment? the answer is loyality to the federal govt. we all know about odili, tinubu and deriye among other govs but ibori has been made the only corrup nigerian.
why is this fight against corruption limited to governors? the real corrupt men and women are residing in aso rock while the other ones visit aso rock at will.
we are perfect jokers and what we call fight against is war against opponents.
senator andy uba was find guilty of money laundary in usa while he was the adviser of obasanjo and our presidential jet was involved. iyabo obasanjo is presently a wanted person in a case of kidnapping in the usa. our first lady dame patience is having an unresolved money laundary issue with efcc. why is she not in uk like ibori. the real war or fight against corruption will not have sacred cows.
why is nigeria and jonathan keeping closed eyes to these matters? who are those nigerians involved in harlibutton scandal, siemens scandal and will bros scandal. let us tell our selves the truth.

If they are going to jail him, they should and stop making noise about.

Ibori will not serve out his time in Nigeria, that is certain. he has commited a grievious crime agianst the crown and will be tried, sentenced and serve out his time in a cat B prison. I am going to make time to attend the next hearing

which government will have that never steal

Bintus2much:

If the claim that Jonathan is making arrangements for Ibori to be brought to Nigeria to serve his jail term then 10years may just be a joke in Nigeria

Must you guys always drag the president's name into any and everything

For Those who need to be reminded of what Ibori charges are, see full list below

SCHEDULE OF OFFENCES

CHARGE ONE

Statement of Offence.

Conspiracy to Defraud, Contrary to Common Law

Particulars of Offence.

James Onanefe Ibori between the 1st day of June 1999 and the 29th day of May 2007 conspired together with Christine Omatie Ibori-Ibie, Adebimpe Folayinmi Pogoson and Udoamaka Onuigbo (also known as Okoronkwo) and others to defraud the Delta State Government, Nigeria, by dishonestly, among other matters,

(i) being a party to an inflated price fraud in respect of the contract for the building of a sports track for the Delta State Government at the Oghara Stadium;

(ii) being a party to the provision of an inflated invoice fraud in respect of the supply of vehicles to the Delta State Government;

(iii) being a party to working for the private interests of Mr Onanefe Ibori whilst he was the Governor of Delta State whilst being paid by the Delta State Government.



CHARGE TWO

Statement of Offence.

Conspiracy to commit money laundering under section 93C(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977.

Particulars of Offence.

James Onanefe Ibori between the 1st day of May 1999 and the 24th day of March 2003 conspired together with, Christine Omatie Ibori-Ibie, Adebimpe Folayinmi Pogoson Udoamaka Onuigbo (also known as Okoronkwo) and others to

(i) conceal or disguise property which was, or in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, represented their proceeds of criminal conduct; or

(ii) convert or transfer that property or remove it from the jurisdiction,

for the purposes of avoiding prosecution for an offence to which Part Six of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 applies.



CHARGE THREE

Statement of Offence.

Money laundering, contrary to section 93C(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

Particulars of Offence.

James Onanefe Ibori between the 1st day of May 1999 and the 24th day of March 2003 together with Christine Omatie Ibori-Ibie, Adebimpe Folayinmi Pogoson, Udoamaka Onuigbo (also known as Okoronkwo) and others:

(i) concealed or disguised property which was, or in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, represented their proceeds of criminal conduct; or

(ii) converted or transferred that property or removed it from the jurisdiction;

for the purpose of avoiding prosecution for an offence to which Part Six of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 applies.



CHARGE FOUR

Statement of Offence.

Conspiracy to commit money laundering under section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977.

Particulars of Offence.

James Onanefe Ibori) between the 23rd day of March 2003 and the 30th day of May 2007 conspired together with, Udoamaka Onuigbo (also known as Okoronkwo), Christine Omatie Ibori-Ibie, Adebimpe Folayinmi Pogoson and others to conceal, disguise, convert, transfer, or remove criminal property from the jurisdiction, knowing or suspecting that the property constituted his benefit from criminal conduct, or it represented such a benefit in whole or in part and whether directly or indirectly.



CHARGE FIVE

Statement of Offence.

Money laundering, contrary to section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Particulars of Offence.

James Onanefe Ibori between the 23rd day of March 2003 and the 30th day of May 2007 together with Udoamaka Onuigbo (also known as Okoronkwo), Christine Omatie Ibori-Ibie, Adebimpe Folayinmi Pogoson, and others, concealed, disguised, converted transferred, or removed criminal property from the jurisdiction knowing or suspecting that the property constituted his benefit from criminal conduct, or that it represented such a benefit in whole or in part, and whether directly or indirectly.



CHARGE SIX

Statement of Offence.

Money laundering, contrary to section 328 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Particulars of Offence.

James Onanefe Ibori between the 23rd day of March 2003 and the 30th day of May 2007 together with Udoamaka Onuigbo (also known as Okoronkwo), Christine Omatie Ibori-Ibie, Adebimpe Folayinmi Pogoson, and others, entered into or became concerned in an arrangement, which he knew or suspected facilitated, by whatever means, the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property by or on behalf of himself, James Onanefe Ibori.



CHARGE SEVEN

Statement of Offence.

Money laundering, contrary to section 93C(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

Particulars of Offence.

James Onanefe Ibori between the 1st day of January 2001 and the 31st day of December 2001 together with Theresa Nkoyo Ibori and others concealed or disguised property, namely a quantity of cash which was the proceeds of criminal conduct, or in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, represented the proceeds of criminal conduct by means of converting or transferring that cash into real property known as 7 Westover Hill, Hampstead, NW3 7VH for the purpose of avoiding prosecution for an offence to which Part Six of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 applies.



CHARGE EIGHT

Statement of Offence.

Money laundering, contrary to section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Particulars of Offence

James Onanefe Ibori between the 23rd day of March 2003 and the 31st day of December 2004, together with Theresa Nkoyo Ibori, Udoamaka Onuigbo (also known as Okoronkwo) and others concealed and disguised criminal property namely a quantity of cash by converting it into real property, namely Flat 36, Hunter Lodge, Admiral’s Walk, Harrow, London W9 3TQ knowing or suspecting that the property constituted his benefit from criminal conduct, or that it represented such a benefit in whole or in part, and whether directly or indirectly.



CHARGE NINE

Statement of Offence.

Money laundering, contrary to section 328 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Particulars of Offence

James Onanefe Ibori between the 1st day of April 2005 and the 28th day of February 2007, together with Theresa Nkoyo Ibori, Bhadresh Babulal Gohil and others, entered into or became involved in an arrangement, namely using a client account of Arlingtons Sharmas Solicitors as the personal bank account of James Onanefe Ibori and Theresa Ibori, which they knew or suspected facilitated (by whatever means) the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property.



CHARGE TEN.

Statement of Offence.

Money laundering, contrary to section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Particulars of Offence.

James Onanefe Ibori between the 1st day of April 2005 and the 28th day of February 2007, together with Theresa Nkoyo Ibori, Bhadresh Babulal Gohil and others, concealed, disguised, converted transferred, or removed criminal property from the jurisdiction by using a client account of Arlingtons Sharmas solicitors as the personal bank account of James and Theresa Ibori, knowing or suspecting that the property constituted his benefit from criminal conduct, or that it represented such a benefit in whole or in part, and whether directly or indirectly



CHARGE ELEVEN

Statement of Offence.

Money laundering, contrary to section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Particulars of Offence

James Onanefe Ibori between the 1st day of April 2005 and the 30th day of August 2005 together with Theresa Nkoyo Ibori, Udoamaka Onuigbo (also known as Okoronkwo), Bhadresh Babulal Gohil and others concealed and disguised criminal property namely a quantity of cash by converting it into real property, namely 42, Great Ground, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8FF, knowing or suspecting that the property constituted his benefit from criminal conduct, or that it represented such a benefit in whole or in part, and whether directly or indirectly.



CHARGE TWELVE

Statement of Offence

MONEY LAUNDERING, contrary to section 328 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Particulars of Offence

James Onanefe Ibori between the 1st day of April 2005 and the 1st day of December 2007, on an occasion other than in Charge 9, together with Bhadresh Babulal Gohil and others, entered into or became involved in an arrangement, namely an attempt to purchase a Challenger Jet aircraft from Bombadier Inc., which he knew or suspected facilitated (by whatever means) the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property by or on behalf of himself, James Onanefe Ibori.



CHARGE THIRTEEN

Statement of Offence

MONEY LAUNDERING, contrary to section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Particulars of Offence

James Onanefe Ibori between the 1st day of April 2005 and the 1st day of December 2007, on an occasion other than in Charge 10, together with Bhadresh Babulal Gohil and others, concealed, disguised, converted transferred, or removed criminal property from the jurisdiction in an attempt to purchase a Challenger Jet aircraft from Bombadier Inc., knowing or suspecting that the property constituted his benefit from criminal conduct, or that it represented such a benefit in whole or in part, and whether directly or indirectly.



CHARGE FOURTEEN

Statement of Offence

MONEY LAUNDERING, contrary to section 328 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Particulars of Offence

James Onanefe Ibori between the 1st day of May 2003 and the 31st day of December 2005, on an occasion other than in Charge 6, together with Udoamaka Onuigbo (also known as Okoronkwo) and others, entered into or became involved in an arrangement, namely the management of corporate vehicles known as the Zircon Trust and Zeta Ltd, which he knew or suspected facilitated by whatever means the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property by or on behalf of himself, James Onanefe Ibori.



CHARGE FIFTEEN,

Statement of Offence

MONEY LAUNDERING, contrary to section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Particulars of Offence

James Onanefe Ibori between the 1st day of May 2003 and the 31st day of December 2005, on an occasion other than in Charge 5, together with Udoamaka Onuigbo (also known as Okoronkwo) and others, concealed, disguised, converted transferred, or removed criminal property from the jurisdiction through the use of corporate vehicles known as the Zircon Trust and Zeta Ltd, knowing or suspecting that the property constituted his benefit from criminal conduct, or that it represented such a benefit in whole or in part, and whether directly or indirectly.



CHARGE SIXTEEN

Statement of Offence.

Conspiracy to Defraud, Contrary to Common Law

Particulars of Offence.

James Onanefe Ibori between the 1st day of September 2005 and the 1st day of January 2007 conspired together and with Bhadresh Babulal Gohil, Lambertus De Boer, Daniel Benedict McCann, Victor Attah, David Edevbie, Love Ojakovo, Professor Akpan Ekpo and others to defraud states within the Federation of Nigeria, namely Delta State and Akwa Ibom State, of sums representing part of the sale price resulting from the sale of shares owned by the said states in Vee Networks (Nigeria) Limited (trading as V Mobile) to Celtel (Nigeria) BV, and held in the names of their respective authorised ministries or agencies the said sums being paid to a company named African Development Finance Limited or its predecessors under an Exclusive Arranger Agreement to a total invoiced value in excess of $37,000,000 United States.



CHARGE SEVENTEEN

Statement of Offence

Conspiracy to make false instruments contrary to section 1(1)(a) of the Criminal Law Act 1977.

Particulars of Offence

James Onanefe Ibori between the 1st day of September 2005 and the 1st day of July 2006 conspired together and with Bhadresh Babulal Gohil, Lambertus De Boer, Daniel Benedict McCann, Professor Akpan Ekpo, James Onanefe Ibori, David Edevbie, Love Ojakovo and others to make false instruments, namely letters and other documents which purported to be made on dates or otherwise in circumstances in which they were not made, in relation to alleged services provided by African Development Finance Limited or its predecessors in relation to the sale of shares by Delta State in Vee Networks (Nigeria) Limited (trading as V Mobile), with the intention that they or another should use the said letters and documents to induce somebody to accept them as genuine and by reason of so accepting to do, or not to do, some act to his own prejudice or that of any other person.



CHARGE EIGHTEEN

Statement of Offence.

Money laundering, contrary to section 328 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Particulars of Offence

James Onanefe Ibori together with Bhadresh Babulal Gohil, Lambertus De Boer, Daniel Benedict McCann between the 15th day of April 2006 and the 9th day of September 2009 entered into or became concerned in an arrangement which they knew or suspected facilitated (by whatever means) the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property by or on behalf of another person or persons, namely the use of the company African Development Finance Limited or its predecessors as a front to receive and launder on behalf of another person sums paid to it under the terms of an Exclusive Arranger Agreement, up to an invoiced total in excess of $37,000,000 United States dollars, in relation to the sale of shares owned by Delta State and Akwa Ibom State in Vee Networks (Nigeria) Limited to Celtel (Nigeria) BV on or after the 15th April 2006.



CHARGE NINETEEN

Statement of Offence.

Money laundering, contrary to section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Particulars of Offence

James Onanefe Ibori, between the 15th day of April 2006 and the 9th day of September 2009, together with Bhadresh Babulal Gohil, Lambertus De Boer, Daniel Benedict McCann, Victor Attah, Henry Imasekha and others concealed, disguised, converted and transferred criminal property, using the company African Development Finance Limited or its predecessors as a front or vehicle, knowing or suspecting that that sum constituted the benefit from criminal conduct of himself and / or another person, or that it represented such benefit in whole or in part and whether directly or indirectly.



CHARGE TWENTY

Statement of Offence.

Money laundering, contrary to section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Particulars of Offence

James Onanefe Ibori on or about the 22nd day of June 2006 together with Bhadresh Babulal Gohil, Lambertus De Boer, Daniel Benedict McCann, Victor Attah, Henry Imasekha and others concealed, disguised, converted and transferred criminal property, namely the sum of $11,400,000 United States dollars being a purported loan from African Development Finance Limited or its predecessors to a company named Brookes Aviation Limited, they knowing or suspecting that that sum constituted the benefit from criminal conduct himself and / or another person, or that it represented such benefit in whole or in part and whether directly or indirectly.



CHARGE TWENTY-ONE

Statement of Offence.

Money laundering, contrary to section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Particulars of Offence

James Onanefe Ibori on or about the 19th day of September 2006 together with Bhadresh Babulal Gohil, Lambertus De Boer, Daniel Benedict McCann, Victor Attah, Henry Imasekha and others concealed, disguised, converted and transferred criminal property, namely the sum of $3,780,000 United States dollars being a purported loan from African Development Finance Limited to a company named FE Samuels, they knowing or suspecting that that sum constituted the benefit from criminal conduct of himself and / or another person, or that it represented such benefit in whole or in part and whether directly or indirectly.



CHARGE TWENTY-TWO

Statement of Offence.

Money laundering, contrary to section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Particulars of Offence

James Onanefe Ibori on or about the 18th day of December 2006 together with Bhadresh Babulal Gohil, Lambertus De Boer, Daniel Benedict McCann, Victor Attah, Henry Imasekha and others concealed, disguised, converted and transferred criminal property, namely the sum of $10,000,000 United States dollars being a purported loan from African Development Finance Limited to a company named Ascot Offshore (Nigeria) Limited, they knowing or suspecting that that sum constituted the benefit from criminal conduct of himself and / or another person, or that it represented such benefit in whole or in part and whether directly or indirectly.



CHARGE TWENY-THREE

Statement of Offence.

Money laundering, contrary to section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Particulars of Offence

James Onanefe Ibori on or about the 4th day of January 2007 together with Bhadresh Babulal Gohil, Lambertus De Boer, Daniel Benedict McCann, Victor Attah, Henry Imasekha and others concealed, disguised, converted and transferred criminal property, namely the sum of $790,000 United States dollars being a purported loan from African Development Finance Limited to a company named Clanbrassil Nominees Limited, they knowing or suspecting that that sum constituted the benefit from criminal conduct of himself and / or another person, or that it represented such benefit in whole or in part and whether directly or indirectly.



CHARGE TWENTY-FOUR

Statement of Offence.

Attempting to commit money laundering, contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981

Particulars of Offence

James Onanefe Ibori between the 15th April 2006 and the 9th September 2009 together with Bhadresh Babulal Gohil, Lambertus De Boer, Daniel Benedict McCann and others attempted to conceal, disguise, convert, transfer or remove criminal property by means of the sale of the assets of the company African Development Finance Limited or its predecessors to another company vehicle, on terms which would represent a gross undervaluation of those assets to a legitimate company.



CHARGE TWENTY-FIVE

Statement of offence.

Obtaining a property transfer by deception, contrary to section 15A of the Theft Act 1968.

Particulars of offence.

James Onanefe Ibori, on or about the 4th day of February 1999 dishonestly obtained for himself or another a money transfer from SunBank Mortgages PLC in the sum of £157,500 being a loan by way of mortgage in respect of the property known as Flat 23, 20 Abbey Road, St John’s Wood, London NW8 by deception, namely by making false representations, among others, that:

(i) His date of birth was 4 August 1958;

(ii) He was self employed at Diat Newspapers, 61, Queen Street, Jabo, Yaba, Lagos Nigeria, established there for 10 years;

(iii) He had not had any County Court judgments entered against him; and

(iv) He had not failed to keep up with payments on mortgages, rent or loan agreements.

Ibori is definitely going to do some time thats why his paddies in the NASS i lobying for extradiction of Nigerian convicts abroad so that He (Ibori) can get the juicy Al-Mustapha treatment complete with rossey chicks and maybe after six months an amnesty from the prez.

Yeye country, idoita leaders, mumu people.

madoba:

This Ibori case don tire me ooh.

It would be nice to finally see the end of this matter and see Ibori behind bars paying for his crimes, it has dragged on for too long.

He is already behind bars.

kalokalo:

To show you how corrupt the Nigerian judicial system is, a Federal High Court judge personally testified before the Supreme Court in 2002 that he was the one who convicted a James Onanefe Ibori in 1994 for fraud. The Supreme Court still went ahead and ruled that there was "no evidence" that the James Onanefe Ibori convicted in 1994 by that high court judge was the same James Onanefe Ibori whose case was before it.

The case was prosecuted by the late Gani Fawehinmi. Nuhu Ribadu testified to how Ibori tried to bribe him with 15 million dollars in cash to discontinue his corruption case. The money is currently with the CBN as exhibit. And yet this is the same Ibori that former attorney general Michael Aondokaa went to London to testify that he had no case to answer in Nigeria. I shake my head for our country. Our judiciary is as corrupt as our politicians.

How is that possible? The accusation was that he was convicted in UK, how can a Nigerian judge testify he jailed someone else?

Or are you saying it Ibori was jailed in Nigeria as well?

Is 10 years enough ? More like 20 year sentence, then he serves half of that !!!Then the message will be sent out to all our treasury looters !!!!

Lexusgs430:

Is 10 years enough ? More like 20 year sentence, then he serves half of that !!!Then the message will be sent out to all our treasury looters !!!!

You will never get that in UK. They are soft on crime because some useless liberals have dominated the policy philosophy for too long.

He would get a soft sentence, get a nice prison that is like a 2* hotel you are not allowed to leave and then he would be released after half the sentence is served.

Lexusgs430:

Is 10 years enough ? More like 20 year sentence, then he serves half of that !!!Then the message will be sent out to all our treasury looters !!!!

Abeg let us celebrate this for the one-off it is. Ibori's current woes will not deter others who know they can still operate with total impunity in Nigeria. In fact , Ibori will be a laughing stock , and not a deterrent , to his fellow thieves. They will view him as not-so-smart for stashing his dough in 'hostile' territory. Smart looters these days are shunning the USA, UK et al in preference for investing in Ghana, South Africa, Saudi Arabia et al.

Sagamite:

How is that possible? The accusation was that he was convicted in UK, how can a Nigerian judge testify he jailed someone else?

Or are you saying it Ibori was jailed in Nigeria as well?

Ibori has been a thief even before he went to UNIBEN to wobble his way out with a third class degree.

The crime and conviction Kaolkalo referred to was the case of the stealing of building materials from a construction site(yes you heard read right,James Ibori don first tiff building materials from construction site,so by the time you allow a credit card fraudster,supermarket thief,roofing sheets thief,murderer/accessory to murder to become the governor of a state,of course he can't but steal the state treasury dry)

@Myself, well said.

@Sagamite, Ibori has been a thief from birth. And please dont under estimate the experience Ibori will get in a UK jail. I have had the opportunity to talk to some who have worked within the system. Ibori if jailed can not go and take a Shiet without being watched. While he is bathing, dem go dey watch am, even when he decied to self-service himself it will be in the eyes of the wardens. His every move is watched, finally he will end up being a big black ruff ragamuffins Bitch. he will be humiliated. His residency will b revoked and he will forever have ex-convict attached to him, which means his chances of coming back to europe or the americas will be remote