BRITISH high commission officials in Nigeria have indicated that they will not allow Chief James Ibori to be released to serve the remainder of his prison term back in the country despite the recent signing of a prisoner exchange programme. On January 9, Nigeria and Britain signed a prisoner exchange agreement that will allow their citizens who are incarcerated to go and serve their terms in their home country. Immediately the agreement was signed, it led to speculation that Chief Ibori, the former Delta State governor would be one of the main beneficiaries of the programme. After a five-year legal battle, Chief Ibori was jailed for 13 years in
April 2012 but it is expected that he will only spend about four-and-a-half years in prison. Although the official figure alleged to have been laundered by Chief Ibori was put at £50m, British officials believe the real amount could be as high as could be up to £250m. Due to the severity of Chief Ibori’s offences and the negative message it would send out, British officials have taken the unprecedented step of announcing that he will not be allowed to benefit from the programme. There are fears that if allowed to return to Nigeria, Chief Ibori will be pardoned and released by the government. One source in the UK high commission in Abuja said: “We are not planning to allow Ibori be a beneficiary of the exchange policy and it is not targeted at him. Our laws are very strong on money laundering; the exchange programme does not cover such people like Ibori. “He will complete his prison terms in the UK as part of our own contribution to your anti-corruption agenda. If he is brought to Nigeria, we are not sure if he would not be pardoned as a result of pressure from some people.” According to the British high commission, the Nigerian government has not made any request for the repatriation of Chief Ibori home to complete his jail term. However, last year, the government pardoned former Bayelsa State governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and there are fears that President Goodluck Jonathan may do the same with Chief Ibori in the run-up to elections next year. In April last year, the a presidential spokesman said Nigeria would not accede to requests from Britain to hand over Chief Alamieyeseigha despite him being wanted in London to face money laundering charges. Chief Alamieyeseigha was arrested by the Metropolitan Police on charges of money laundering in September 2005 but jumped bail and fled the country to Nigeria disguised as a woman. One Nigerian government source said: “There is no plan to bring Ibori home under any guise and we will not do so. We will be sending a wrong signal if we do so. “This is an example of consequence of graft in public office and we want others to learn from Ibori’s experience. His conviction has strengthened our anti-corruption campaign.” During a three-week confiscation hearing last year, prosecutors sought a court order for the confiscation of £90m in assets that were said to be the proceeds of Chief Ibori’s crimes. However, the hearing ended inconclusively and will restart this year. – See more at:
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