Nigeria: James Ibori seeks PR firm to help launder his image

Sources have revealed that convicted former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, who is serving a jail term in the United Kingdom for money laundering and fraud convictions has been trying to engage the services of UK public relations firms. Apparently he is seeking the services of a PR firm to help him launder his image in preparation for his release from jail and his eventual return to Nigeria.

Ibori apparently intends to continue in Nigerian politics after his prison stint. Sources have also revealed that, so far, most of the major PR firms contacted by Ibori's people have turned down the offer to work for Ibori. It would appear that Ibori is hoping to take a leaf from the book of former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyesiegha, who was infamously arrested in the UK on money laundering charges but escaped, dressed as a woman and effectively evading trial.

Following his disgrace Alamieyesiegha was replaced as governor by Goodluck Jonathan who was then the deputy governor. Despite being perceived as something of a political pariah his people held a “welcome parade” for him which was severely criticised by pundits. Alamieyesiegha has, however, now made a successful return to political circles.

Ibori's family and associates in Nigeria recently planned a “grand celebration” in honour of his 54th birthday party and this was widely advertised in national dailies. This celebration, which was criticised as ill-advised by observers and political pundits had been scheduled for Saturday 4 August but it has now been cancelled. The cancellation announcement was made by the secretary of the James Ibori Political Associates, Jaro Egbo, which was organising the celebration. Egbo cited circumstances beyond their control - the death of Ibori's brother - as the reason for the cancellation.

For more news and expert analysis about Nigeria, please see Nigeria Focus and Nigeria Politics & Security.

© 2012 Menas Associates

Nigeria: James Ibori awaits extradition to the UK

Dubai's Court of Cassation has ruled that former Nigerian state governor James Ibori can be extradited to the UK to face corruption charges. Nigeria's anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has accused Ibori of stealing in excess of $290 million from state funds while working as the governor of Delta State. The British authorities believe Ibori deposited most of the funds within UK banks.

Ibori, who was detained in May by the global police agency Interpol, denies the charges. The Dubai court ruled that there were no grounds to block the extradition. In 2007, a London court froze UK assets worth in the region of $35 million, believed to have belonged to Ibori but by that point he had already left the country. Ibori, a senior political figure in Nigeria's ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), was first apprehended in Nigeria in December 2007.

In 2009, Ibori was cleared of 170 charges of corruption, by a court in Asaba, who had found no clear evidence to convict him.

Source: BBC News

For more news and expert analysis about Nigeria, please see Nigeria Focus and Nigeria Politics & Security.

Nigeria: Ibori's wife convicted on money-laundering charges

A jury at Southwark Crown Court in London (UK) has found Theresa Nkoyo Ibori – the wife of former Delta State governor James Ibori – guilty on two counts of money-laundering charges brought against her. While she is yet to be sentenced, the usual jail-term for the offences she has been convicted of is between two and five years.

UK lawyer Bhadresh Gohil – who was standing trial along with Mrs Ibori for similar offences – was also found guilty of the charges brought against him. They have both been remanded in custody. However, Gohil is expected to be sentenced only after the conclusion of a related trial involving the laundering of the proceeds from the sale of shares in telecommunications company V-Mobile by James Ibori, Henry Imasekha, David Edevbie and former governor of Akwa Ibom State Victor Attah.

Their trial is expected to commence on 29th November 2010 in London. Ibori is presently in detention in Dubai, awaiting the outcome of a hearing on his extradition to the UK. The convictions of Mrs Ibori and Gohil represent the third and fourth in money-laundering cases involving Ibori and his associates.

A few months ago, Ibori's sister Christine Ibori-Ibie and his associate Udoamaka Okoronkwo-Onuigbo were convicted and sentenced to prison terms for related money-laundering offences.

For more news and expert analysis about Nigeria, please see Nigeria Focus and Nigeria Politics & Security.

© 2010 Menas Associates