The Southwalk Crown Court in London, Thursday, delivered an order freezing the assets of James Ibori, the former governor of Delta State.
The assets frozen include real estate belonging to the ex-governor in the United Kingdom, a newly acqu-ired aircraft - still with the manufacturers in Canada - and cash, all estimated at between £20 to £25 million.  The value of the aircraft alone, according to sources, is believed to be in the region of $20 million.
But in a swift reaction to the development, Ibori told THISDAY in a telephone interview last night that what the British court granted was a restraining order on him from interacting with the assets.
Ibori explained that the London Metropolitan Police had for the past 13 to 15 months been trying to freeze the assets, but simply got a two-month restraining order that was imposed by the court on him (Ibori) from interacting with the assets, while they conduct their investigations.
The restraining order on Ibori’s assets arose from an application made by the London Metropolitan Police after weeks of investigating the wealth of the former governor, which the police felt could not be reconciled with his legitimate earnings.
Also confirming the order by the court, the London Met informed THISDAY over the telephone that an application of restraint had been made at a high court in London against Ibori.
It, however, declined to disclose if the application was based on a request made by an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria and when it was made in the first instance.
Sources in the presidency said this recent turn of events involving yet another ex-governor is as a result of renewed collaboration involving the London Met, Interpol and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“We are optimistic about more of such discoveries in the next few days. The London Met has really been of great help to the Nigerian government,” enthused a source conversant with the case.
He dismissed Ibori’s attempt to downplay the restraining order imposed on him (Ibori) by the court, saying that it amounts to getting his assets frozen. “A restraining order barring an individual from interacting with his assets is tantamount to a freeze on the assets because they cannot be used to transact any business whatsoever.
“Ibori, by the court order cannot withdraw or transfer money from his accounts, carry out any transactions using any of the assets, dispose of them, or even use them to secure any form of mortgage debenture. So what is the difference?” he enquired.
Ibori is one of the 31 former governors under investigations by the EFCC. Speculations have been rife that the EFCC was being arm-twisted from investigating him because of his huge financial contributions to the success of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the April polls.
The freezing of Ibori’s assets is coming on the heels of yesterday’s promise by the Met to help track and recover money laundered by former governors in the United Kingdom. It said it would follow suit in the clampdown against some former governors by digging into the activities of all former Nigerian officials for a period spanning ten years of their stewardship.
According to an official statement by the London Met, “Anyone linked to money laundering and other financial corrupt practices, would not only be arrested and tried, but would have such monies, assets and property seized. All the money recovered would be returned to the Nigerian authorities. The probe would follow the due procedure based on the justice system and human rights.”
It was gathered that the London Met also has two other former governors under intense investigation. One of them is said to be from the south-east while the other is from the south-south. The source said the London met found their assets in UK “frightening.”
London Met had between 2004 and 2005 helped to track and recover money laundered by Joshua Dariye and Depriye Alamieyesiegha, former governors of Plateau and Bayelsa states respectively.
In the last six weeks, the EFCC has been arraigning some former governors in court for alleged corrupt practices while in office. They include Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), Saminu Turaki (Jigawa), Jolly Nyame (Taraba), and Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State.

The beginning of the end has come for him; its a pity he wasted his money in the old PDP. He better put his house in order and start renovating all the prisons in Nigeria.

This is very good news for the millions of people in Delta State, because this criminal ex-governor is one of the most notorious kleptomaniacs in the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) of Nigeria who looted the treasury and left millions of the poor masses in penury and misery.
He must be tried.

President Umaru Yar'Adua and his corrupt PDP government is not different from the story of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves.

The next criminal ex-governor that must be exposed and arrested is Dr. Peter Odili, of Rivers State.

These evil and wicked governors and their polical godfathers are responsible for the violent attacks and kidnappings of foreign oil workers in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

Countless Nigerians have suffered and died, because of the crimes and evils of the greediness and wickedness of these kleptomaniacs in public office and their accomplices in private practice. They are the largest shareholders in the so called leading banks in Nigeria and the Apex bank is implicated in the misappropriation and misapplication of state funds in Nigeria. And Nigeria will not be safe until we get rid of this criminal ruling class.

What is going on in Nigeria is a comedy of errors.
And every thief in Nigeria is made a chief.

We thought IBB was bad, but Abacha was worse and then OBJ became the worst.

Until a Nigerian Jerry Rawlings takes over power in Nigeria, the vicious circle of corruption will never end.

The irony is the fact that most of those shouting wolf online and offline are actually the beneficiaries of these criminals making up the ruling class in Nigeria.

Please don't compare this people to IBB, the only reason we cant or don't know the magnitude of IBB crime and atrocities against Nigerian is because he is still alive, wait till the man dies, and all end will break loose.

How is this a good news to Nigerians or Nigeria? will the proceeds be given back to Nigeria? until then I hold my peace.

[b]Graft: No protection for my sponsors —Yar'Adua * Oct 1 date for Ibori in London Court[/b]President Yar’Adua wishes to assure all Nigerians that his Administration will never provide a safe haven or escape route for anyone, no matter how highly placed they may be and irrespective of whatever role they played or claim to have played in his election, if they are found to have soiled their hands by looting public funds for their personal aggrandizement’

ABUJA — THE Presidency declared yesterday that it was in no mood whatsoever to shield anyone from the full weight of the law for looting public funds.

In the first public reaction to insinuations that President Umaru Yar’Adua had been meeting with some immediate past governors with a view to negotiating a safe landing for them from prosecution for corruption, the Presidency said he (Yar’Adua) “will never provide a safe haven or escape route for anyone, no matter how highly placed they may be and irrespective of whatever role they played or claim to have played in his election, if they are found to have soiled their hands by looting public funds.”

Ex-governors Orji Kalu (Abia), James Ibori (Delta) and Peter Odili (Rivers) met with the President last week in Abuja provoking suggestions in some quarters that the meeting was to find an escape route for some ex-governors being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Indeed, media reports had insinuated that last week’s decision of the London Metropolitan Police to freeze Chief Ibori’s assets worth £17 million in London was triggered by the EFCC which allegedly passed its file on Ibori to the London Police.

The EFCC reportedly took the decision because it appeared that the Presidency was protecting Ibori on account of the alleged role he played in the emergence of Alhaji Yar’Adua as the presidential candidate of the PDP and his eventual victory in the April polls.

Uncomfortable with the insinuations, the Presidency through the Special Assistant to the President (Communications), Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, yesterday issued a statement clarifying its position.

No safe haven for looters —Presidency

It said: “The attention of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has been drawn to media reports suggesting that he is hampering the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the fight against corruption.

“Specifically, the slant in most of the stories is that because the President intends to ‘protect’ some former Governors who allegedly bankrolled his campaign, he has decided to curb the powers of the EFCC.

“I state very categorically that nothing can be farther from the truth. President Yar’Adua is very serious about his commitment to instilling discipline, transparency, respect for the rule of law and due process in the conduct of government business and remains resolute in his resolve to fight corruption and abuse of office.

“I also want to state that the President will support all the agencies of government responsible for bringing to justice people found to have abused their offices either in the past, now or in future.

“In doing so, however, the President is mindful that any goal pursued without recourse to due process and rule of law will be antithetical to the promotion of our democracy and can only achieve short term results.

“President Yar’Adua firmly believes that in fighting corruption, nobody and no institution, and this includes the Presidency and himself as President, should be seen to be above the law and the Constitution.

“It is for this reason that he today granted the following requests of the Attorney-General and Justice Minister:
•That all agencies involved in the prosecution of criminal offences such as the EFCC and ICPC should report and initiate Criminal Proceedings with the consent and approval of the Attorney General of the Federation as specified in relevant sections of the Constitution.

•That the Attorney-General of the Federation exercise powers conferred on him pursuant to Section 43 of the EFCC Act 2004 to make rules or regulations with respect to the exercise of any of the duties, functions or powers of the EFCC.

“I would like to emphasize that the decision to enforce the powers of the Attorney-General of the Federation was solely motivated by President Yar’Adua’s respect for due process and the rule of law and not by any desire to shield anybody from criminal prosecution.

“President Yar’Adua has also granted the Attorney-General’s requests to ensure better coordination among the country’s law enforcement agencies and avoid untidy multiple criminal prosecutions as are being currently undertaken by the EFCC, ICPC and the Code of Conduct Tribunal in respect of the same alleged offences.

“Without prejudice to the foregoing, President Yar’Adua wishes to assure all Nigerians that his Administration will never provide a safe haven or escape route for anyone, no matter how highly placed they may be and irrespective of whatever role they played or claim to have played in his election, if they are found to have soiled their hands by looting public funds for their personal aggrandizement.”

Oct 1 date for Ibori in London Court

Already, The Southwark Crown Court in London will on October 1, 2007 review the assets forfeiture case against Chief Ibori possibly to strengthen the money laundering case against the former governor.

The court granted an application of restraint last Thursday in respect of assets of Chief Ibori worth approximately £17 million.

According to the court papers, the application was made by the London Metropolitan Police under the “Proceeds of Crime Act” and these extensive applications relate to business and private finances of the former Delta State governor.

@fatherE
Don't let Seun roundhouse kick you. Better modify your post and add a link to the source of the story.

All na basket mouth making loud noise. all this paper will exaggerate to sell their paper. Don't be amaze if Ibori is pardon.

Don't be surprised if Ibori is in his house right

now eating Fufu.