The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has said it received with happiness the news of the conviction of a former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, by a Southwark Crown Court in London on Tuesday.
In a statement by its acting Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC said the conviction “is the icing on a tortuous investigative and legal odyssey for all actors involved in the Ibori saga.”
The statement added: “It is reassuring that today’s sentencing of Ibori was based on the foundation of the case built by the EFCC in 2007 which unfortunately was thrown out by the Federal High Court, Asaba for lack of merit. The same fate has lately befallen other EFCC cases, notably the Erastus Akingbola, Ndudi Elumelu, Dimeji Bankole and Gbenga Daniel matters. They were all thrown out by the courts purely on technical grounds without consideration of the substantive issues.
“The fact that a case which supposedly lacked merit in Nigeria could fetch a 13 year jail term in the UK after a landmark guilt plea, brings to fore the need for a reassessment of the nation’s justice delivery process. We must strengthen our judicial institutions if we are to make any headway in the anti- graft efforts.
“More interesting to the Commission in the Ibori conviction, is the opportunity for the repatriation of the array of properties and assets amassed overseas by the convict.
“Once again, his fate has proven that there is no safe haven abroad for politically exposed persons who looted state funds entrusted in their care.
“The Commission expects Ibori to serve his term in the UK and return to Nigeria to face other criminal charges pending in courts, arising from his eight year rule of Delta State.
“The EFCC wishes to restate the fact that the offences for which Ibori was jailed in London is only a fraction of the array of criminal infractions committed by the former governor.
“The Commission remains committed in its determination to bring Ibori and other alleged corrupt politically exposed persons and corporate titans to book in Nigeria, no matter how long it takes.”