London Court to confiscate £101.5m from James Ibori

A London court has taken a significant step towards ordering the confiscation of over £100 million (approximately $129 million) from Nigerian politician and former Delta State governor, James Ibori, as reported by Reuters. Ibori was previously convicted of fraud in the United Kingdom, serving several years in prison.

The case against Ibori dates back to 2011 when he was extradited from Dubai to London to face charges of laundering a “corruptly acquired fortune.” In 2012, he pleaded guilty to 10 counts of fraud and money laundering and received a 13-year jail sentence, hailed by Britain as a landmark victory in the fight against corruption.

Despite its reputation as a global money-laundering hub, the UK rarely prosecutes foreign kleptocrats. However, Ibori’s case has stood out due to its prolonged legal proceedings, which are now nearing conclusion.

During a recent hearing at Southwark Crown Court, both sides presented arguments on how the confiscation figure should be calculated, considering the judge’s findings. Lead prosecution counsel, Jonathan Kinnear, suggested that £101.5 million should be confiscated from Ibori. If he fails to comply, he could face an additional prison sentence of between five and ten years.

Ibori, who served half of his sentence in pre- and post-trial detention, returned to Nigeria in 2017 and did not attend the recent court hearing. He expressed his intention to appeal against the confiscation order via text message to Reuters.

Despite his criminal record, Ibori remains influential and well-connected in Nigerian politics. His case has received international attention, with Britain promising to return any recovered money to Nigeria. In 2021, £4.2 million confiscated from Ibori’s ex-wife and sister was already repatriated.

While the court’s decision is pending, Ibori expressed concerns over the fairness of the proceedings on his Facebook page. He announced plans to seek redress and fight for justice in the highest courts in the UK. As the legal battle continues, the international community will closely watch the outcome, hoping for a just resolution.