James Ibori, Ex-Wickes Worker Who Became Nigerian Governor, Jailed For 13 Years

Posted: 17/04/2012 15:40 Updated: 17/04/2012 19:34

Jamesibori
Ibori will be sentenced later today at Southwark Crown Court

James Ibori, the former governor of Delta state, Nigeria, who started his career as a cashier at Wickes has been jailed for 13 years at Southwark Crown Court, London, after admitting fraud totalling nearly £50 million.

Ibori, who pleaded guilty to the charges worked at the Ruislip branch of the company, before he left the country to return to his native Nigeria, where he chased a lucrative, powerful career in politics.

He became a state governor in 1999, and, Sky News reports, spent up to £126,000 a month on "a luxury lifestyle, including running a fleet of armoured Range Rovers."

Ibori pleaded guilty to a number of charges, one of conspiracy to launder money, five of money laundering, one of obtaining property through deception totalling £25m worth of fraud while he was governor of Nigeria's Delta state.

He also admitted to another charge of money laundering linked to a larger case involving a £23.3m share fraud scheme, as well as two further charges.

His wife, sister, mistress and solicitor have all already been sent to prison for their role in his schemes.

It is believed that he also used a fake passport to stand to stand as governor for the People's Democratic Party in 1999, in order to hide a criminal record that would've prevented him from being elected.

Ibori was only arrested when he was caught trying to buy a £12m airplane. He as then extradited to the UK in 2011, when it was estimated that he was responsible for up to £157m worth of fraud in the country.

Prosecutor Sasha Wass said of Ibori: "From the moment he was elected he set out enriching himself at the expense of some of the poorest people in the world. His greed increased exponentially during the course of his governorship as did his arrogance.""

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07:07 PM on 04/17/2012
Fraud? Corruption?

For sheer brutality of impact, and indifference to human consequence, this example of corruption takes some beating:
http://www.expendable.tv

So deep is it, that the Australian media won't report it... won't report cables which prove criminal acts by their own ministers in office (see them for yourelf, in the reports).

Granted, the media there has a closed remit and non-plural ownership, but this speaks for itself. A wall of silence.

The victim is now seriously ill, whilst they basically point the other way.

If this guy gets 13 years, what do you do to the criminal Australians?
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Aristarchy
Medicine left in a bottle cannot heal
04:57 PM on 04/17/2012
Oloriburuku Jaguda man.
They had to go to London to get Justice.
Thousands still go unpunished.
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Adeyemo Sodipo
We all belong to the human race!!!
04:12 PM on 04/17/2012
Thank you for at least taking care of one of these crooks. We have too many crooks with assets in Britain and they know this. They should go after the other crooks.
04:46 PM on 04/17/2012
I take that you are British then ? Adeyemo !
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Adeyemo Sodipo
We all belong to the human race!!!
06:05 PM on 04/17/2012
I am a Nigerian and I am sick and tired of these political thieves. They have been depriving the citizens of Nigeria their basic rights. The right to electricity, education, adequate health, water, good roads and etc. The western world knows about these thieves and they have been helping them to conceal their ill gotten wealth. According to Fela: Authority Stealing!!!!
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coady12
05:51 PM on 05/16/2012
they need to be identified?