“It is a thing of joy and the only expression as a state is that we are happy” – Delta State on James Ibori’s Release

Delta State Government said that it had no case with former Governor, James Ibori and as such was very happy for his release from the London prison.

The State Commissioner for Information, Patrick Ukah, stated this in Asaba while responding to questions after briefing newsmen on some of the decisions at the last State Executive Council meeting for the year.

Recall that Ibori was on December 21 released from prison after completing his sentence for fraud in a London prison.

According to Ukah, the close associate of the former governor and all those who knew him and loved him expressed joy at his release.

“We are all very happy that our son, our brother, former governor has been released. So, it is a thing of joy and the only expression as a state is that we are happy. I think for everybody, who has a personal relationship with him, will be very happy and I think that as a state we don’t have issues with our former governor and he is somebody that everybody loved,” he said.

Ibori was released on Wednesday following a Court order, after he served out his jail term at a UK prison.

Ibori’s corruption charges started with filing of petitions by his kinsmen to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

In 2007, the Metropolitan Police raided the London offices of lawyer Bhadresh Gohil.

Ibori, who as governor of oil-producing Delta State from 1999 to 2007 became one of Nigeria’s richest and most powerful men, served the term after pleading guilty in 2012 to 10 counts of fraud and money-laundering.

While in office, Ibori acquired luxury properties in Britain, the United States, South Africa and Nigeria. He is the most senior Nigerian politician to have been held to account for the corruption that has blighted Africa’s most populous nation.

As a result of these corruption allegations, the United Kingdom courts froze Ibori’s assets there, valued at about £17 million ($35 million), in early August 2007.

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.

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 EFCC.

On May 13 2010, Ibori was arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates under Interpol arrest warrants, issued from United Kingdom courts and enacted by the Metropolitan Police.

The Nigerian government and the United Kingdom then agreed to work together on Ibori’s extradition to the United Kingdom.

He was finally extradited to UK where he was tried and jailed.

Following his release, a ‘Praise and Worship’ session was held at his residence.

He must do two things before returning to Nigeria; face a deportation hearing and also pay £18 million to the UK government as the “proceeds of crime.”