| James Onanefe Ibori | |
|---|---|
| 2nd Civilian Governor of Delta State | |
| In office 29 May 1999 – 29 May 2007 |
|
| Deputy | Benjamin Elue |
| Preceded by | Walter Feghabo |
| Succeeded by | Emmanuel Uduaghan |
James Onanefe Ibori (born 4 August 1958) was the Governor of Delta State in Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. He is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP). He was arguably the most vocal advocate for resource nationalism in Nigeria.[1]
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Born to the family of late Chief Ukavbe Ibori and Mrs. Comfort Oji Ibori of Otefe in Oghara clan, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, he attended Baptist High School, Oghareki, now Oghareki Grammar School, before proceeding to the University of Benin where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in economics and statistics.[2] He started his working career with Mobil Oil Nigeria Limited and was later seconded to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as one of the pioneer staff assembled to develop the marketing department of the corporation's Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company.
Between 1994 and1997, he served as a consultant to the Federal Government in the areas of public policy formulation and implementation. His major assignment during this period was the research, which resulted in the formulation of a national drug policy for the country. A proposal he submitted to the Federal Government was the basis on which Decree 3 of 1995 was promulgated and the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Drug Matters was established.
Ibori's political career began in 1990 when he joined the National Republican Convention (NRC). In 1991, he was nominated to contest for the Federal House of Representatives seat, to represent Ethiope Federal Constituency. He lost the election to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate. When the Sani Abacha Transition Programme kicked off, he joined the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM). The GDM clinched a good number of local, state and federal positions, including one of the three senatorial seats in the state. The transition programme was abruptly terminated with the death of Abacha. Ibori then with the leaders of other defunct political groups in Delta State, formed the Delta National Congress (DNC).
The DNC later merged with many others of like ideas to birth the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It was on the platform of the PDP that he contested and won the January 9, 1999 election to become the governor of Delta State. In 2003, he was re-elected as governor for another four year term.
Due to corruption allegations, a court in the United Kingdom froze his assets there, valued at about £17 million ($35 million), in early August 2007.[3]
His wife, Nkoyo, was arrested at Heathrow Airport in London on 1 November 2007, in connection with the probe of the assets of her husband, particularly in the United Kingdom.[4] She was released after being questioned.
In an exclusive interview with the CNN, Ibori denied allegations against him claiming they were politically motivated. He accused Ribadu (Nuhu Ribadu) and the UK Courts of playing politics.[5]
On December 12, 2007, Ibori was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Kwara State Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.[6] The charges he faces include theft of public funds, abuse of office, and money laundering. These corruption charges brought against Ibori by the government of former President Obasanjo are among many begun by anticorruption czar Nuhu Ribadu against former officials of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party PDP. Ribadu additionally alleged that Ibori attempted to bribe him to drop the charges with a cash gift of $15 million, which he (Ribadu) immediately lodged in the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN. The cash remains in the CBN as an exhibit.[7]
On December 17, 2009, A Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, discharged and acquitted Ibori of all 170 charges of corruption brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).[8] With this judgement, all eyes are now on the outcome of the money laundering case brought against some of Chief Ibori's associates by the crown prosecution service at the Southwark crown court, London and the basis of their allegations as Chief Ibori was acquitted of the entire 170 charges leveled against him on charges which would have been a foundation for such a case in the United Kingdom.
The EFCC have since filed a notice of appeal against the December 17, 2009 judgement and has begun a new round of investigations on the former governor following a petition by members of the Delta State Elders, Leaders and Stakeholders Forum, which was made available to the public in March 2010.[9]
In April 2010, about three months after the take over of government by Goodluck Jonathan, Ibori's case file was reopened. A new allegation that he embezzled N40 billion ($266 million) was pressed against him. Attempts to arrest him were unsuccessful. It was reported that he fled from Abuja to Lagos and then to the creeks of Oghara, his homeland in the Niger Delta. It was reported that he has been guarded by armed militias and they once had a shoot out with government security forces. He claimed that the charges were frivolous and that he was a victim of political persecution.[10][11]
On 25 April 2010 there were reports that Ibori had fled the country to evade arrest by operatives of the EFCC. The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Femi Babafemi, confirmed that the commission was in possession of an intelligence report that Ibori had fled Nigeria and added that the assistance of Interpol might be sought to effect his arrest once his location was established.[12] On 30 April 2010, security reports indicated that the alleged escape of Ibori from Nigeria might be a smokescreen. Security agencies suspected that he was still in hiding in Nigeria.[13] The Compass Newspaper reported on 12 July 2010 that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Malam Sanusi Lamido revealed that Chief James Onanefe Ibori used Delta State as collateral for N40 billion loan when he (Ibori) was governor.[14]
Front-page news report by the Punch Newspaper on 13 May 2010 stated that "indications emerged on Thursday that Chief James Ibori may have been arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirate by agents of INTERPOL based on an international arrest warrant issued by the United Kingdom government in respect of money laundering charges".[15][16] Also, a Vanguard newspaper report of 13 May 2010 says "he was arrested, arraigned and granted bail pending when the British authority will bring his case file to argue for his extradition to the UK".[17] The "UK authorities confirmed to SaharaReporters "that Mr. James Onafefe Ibori, the 47 year-old former governor of Delta State, was detained in Dubai yesterday at the instance of the London Metropolitan Police".[18] Other news reports agreed that Ibori was granted bail after his initial arraignment in Dubai. His media assisitant, Tony Eluemunor, said that Ibori was left to "go free".[19][20]
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police confirmed that the United Kingdom would "seek Mr Ibori's extradition".[21] While The Telegraph confirmed that "attempts to prosecute Mr Ibori have been some of the longest, most complex and expensive operations mounted by Scotland Yard in recent years. Prosecutors allege that companies owned by Mr Ibori and his family were beneficiaries from the sale of state assets, including shares in a mobile telephone operator, as well as crude oil deliveries".[22] The Nigerian government and the United Kingdom agreed to work together on his extradition to the United kingdom.[23][24] even as his movement became restricted by the Dubai authority.[25] The Punch Newspaper however reported on 27 May 2010 that Ibori was seeking political asylum in Dubai, the Arab country[26] while the Compass Newspaper reported on Sunday 5 June 2010 that there were "strong indications that the government of the United Arab Emirates have insisted on trying the former governor in Dubai, according to its laws than either in Nigeria or United Kingdom".[27] The EFCC however confirmed on Thursday 10th 2010 that it had received official report from Dubai that the UAE had revoked Ibori's bail and that "Mr Ibori is in custody" of the UAE authority.[28]
In London, where Ibori is being sought in the case of money laundering, the authority continued with the prosecution of his associates who were in the dock for helping Ibori to launder money.
On 1st and 2 June 2010, UK juries found James Ibori's sister, Christine Ibie-Ibori[29] and his associate, Udoamaka Okoronkwo, guilty on counts of money laundering, in a verdict delivered at the Southwark Crown Court, London.[30] Mr. James Ibori, via his media aide released a statement questioning the validity of the verdict which he claimed absolved the two other women, Ms Okoronkwo and Adebimpe Pogoson who were charged alongside his sister.[31] The jury's verdict of 2 June 2010 however returned a guilty decision against Okoronkwo as well.[32] Chrstine Ibie-Ibori and Udoamaka Okoronkwo were each sentenced to 5 years in prison on Monday 7 June 2010 by the UK court even as the defense counsel pleaded for mercy that the convicts were merely manipulated by James Bori.[33]
James Ibori was handed over to UK authorities in Dubai and extradited to UK on April 15, 2011. He is expected to be arraigned on money laundering and other charges.[34]
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