James Ibori, a Nigerian politician who spent years in UK jails after pleading guilty to laundering a stolen fortune in Britain, launched an appeal against his conviction on Wednesday, alleging corruption in the ranks of British police.

Ibori hopes to regain control of assets worth 90 million pounds ($130 million), which have been frozen for years. The British authorities aim to confiscate them and return them to the Nigerian state.

As governor of oil-producing Delta State from 1999 to 2007, Ibori became one of Nigeria’s most powerful men and enjoyed a millionaire lifestyle, with properties and luxury cars in several countries. At the time of his arrest he was in the process of buying a $20 million private jet.

His conviction in 2012, after he admitted 10 counts of fraud and money-laundering, was a rare example of a big player in Nigerian politics being held to account for the corruption that has blighted Africa’s most populous nation.

But Ibori’s lawyers allege that one of the British police officers who investigated him took bribes in 2007 from a private detective, hired by a British law firm working for Ibori, in return for inside information about the police investigation.

They also allege that British anti-corruption police who were supposed to investigate the alleged bribery instead covered it up to avoid scuppering Ibori’s trial and tarnishing the reputation of the police.

All the people against whom allegations of corruption or bad faith have been made have denied them.

The appeal hearing, being held before three judges at London’s Court of Appeal, is due to last three days.

Ibori was released from jail in December 2016 after serving half of his 13-year sentence, as is normal in Britain, and he returned to Nigeria in February 2017. He has re-emerged in public life there and been feted at various events.

Saturday's Thanksgiving and grand reception for Mr. James Ibori, the former Delta State governor convicted for money laundering, SaharaReporters has learned, cost the government of Delta State N250 million.

READ MORE: https://t.co/s78h2Ai96t pic.twitter.com/HgAvRPLaIZ — Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) March 12, 2018

He was due to give evidence on Wednesday via video-link from Nigeria, and he appeared briefly on a screen in court, but the connection was lost and could not be restored. The court was told a power cut in Nigeria was the reason for the glitch.

Despite being a major oil and gas producer, Nigeria has daily electricity cuts – a result of decades of corruption and mismanagement in the power sector.

The judges instructed that a new attempt be made to establish a video-link to Ibori on Thursday.

REUTERS</s>A former governor of Delta state, James Ibori, who spent years in UK prison after pleading guilty to money laundering in Britain, yesterday launched an appeal against his conviction, alleging corruption in the ranks of British police.

According to Ibori’s lawyers, one of the British police officers who investigated him took bribes in 2007 from a private detective, hired by a law firm working for Ibori, in return for inside information about the police investigation.

They also alleged that British anti-corruption police who were supposed to investigate the alleged bribery instead covered it up to avoid weakening Ibori’s trial and tarnishing the reputation of the police.

The appeal hearing currently being held before three judges at London’s Court of Appeal, is due to last three days.

Ibori was due to give evidence on Wednesday via video-link from Nigeria, and he appeared briefly on a screen in court, but the connection was lost and could not be restored. The court was told a power cut in Nigeria was the reason for the glitch.

The judges instructed that a new attempt be made to establish a video-link to Ibori on Thursday.

NigerianEye reports that about $130 million of Ibori’s assets are at stake, which have been frozen for years.</s>Ex-Governor of Delta state James Ibori on Wednesday filed an appeal against his conviction in United Kingdom, alleging corruption in the ranks of British police.

Ibori was released from a jail in December 2016 after serving half of his 13-year sentence, as is normal in Britain.

The former governor had pleaded guilty to laundering a stolen fortune in Britain.

He returned to Nigeria in February 2017.

The British authorities intend to confiscate Ibori’s about 90 million pounds ($130 million) assets, which have since been frozen.

The appeal hearing, being held before three judges at London’s Court of Appeal, is due to last three days.</s>Six months after the Delta State government under Ifeanyi Okowa, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for God is Good Motors Limited to manage Delta Transport Company Limited where the governor expressed confidence that Deltans would have better benefits from the partnership, the MoU has continued to raise ill-blood among Deltans.

The current ill feeling is coming from the State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) which has challenged the Delta State government to give an account of the current state of the partnership, as well as the value so far added by the investor.

The controversial MoU, the flagship of Delta State in the transportation sector was one shrouded in political abracadabra. Delta Line with a massive goodwill and reputation built over the years, with over 100 terminals across the country and well over 1200 units of modern buses was sold for N160 million to God is Good Motors as against the sum of N2 billion offered by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).

Rising from the State Congress of the NUJ, a communique signed by the State Chairman, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu and Secretary, Churchill Oyowe, dated 15th March, 2018 was issued, urging the Okowa-led administration to explain the state of the Delta Line/God is Good PARTNERSHIP to Deltans whose common patrimony has been allegedly bargained out to settle friends and political associates.

The Congress strongly condemned the molestation of members of the NUJ in the course of performing their legitimate duty and urged journalists practicing in the state to rededicate themselves to the ideals of the profession.

They further called on the State Government to synergize with relevant security agencies in the State to urgently address the menace of alleged killings by Fulani Herdsmen in communities across the State.

The Congress while commending the Delta State Government for re-awarding failed projects at the Asaba International Airport and the deplorable Maryam Babangida Way (Road) in Asaba to a competent contractor urged the government to be proactive to the perennial flood in Asaba through the construction of deep drains and giving priority attention to construction/ rehabilitation of major roads in Asaba capital territory. The Congress finally appreciated the Delta State Government for linking Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS) Asaba to the 330 KVA Line.</s>ASABA —Delta State House of Assembly has ratified a Short-Term Certificate Discount Facility of N3 billion in favour of two major contractors working for the state government, CCC Construction Nigeria Limited and Setraco NigeriaLlimited as requested by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

The facility is in the sum of N1.5 billion each to be repaid in six months through the issuance of an Irrevocable Standing Payment Order from the state government’s FAAC account in Zenith Bank Plc.

Speaker, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, who at plenary read out the content of the letter, which conveyed the request of the governor told newsmen that “the speedy ratification of the request reaffirmed the commitment of the state legislature at ensuring speedy and unhindered execution of people’s oriented projects embarked upon by the state government.

“Governor Okowa has respect for the rule of law. The fiscal responsibility law of the state stipulates that such approval must be ratified by the Delta State House of Assembly.

“The governor has presented the request and the House speedily attended to it in line with our resolve to continue to synergize with the executive arm to promote good governance and development in the state.”</s>NigerianBulletin.com is one of Nigeria's leading on-line destinations for the latest Nigerian trending news and updates, helpful articles and a community sharing the best, latest information on Nigeria and things that concern Nigerians. Some of the topics we cover include Nigerian political news, metro, sports, business and entertainment. In addition we provide articles on careers, health, technology, travel and money. These articles are designed to help Nigerians make informed decisions in their every day personal and professional lives.
James Ibori, a former governor of Delta State, Nigeria, launches a bid to overturn his guilty pleas on corruption charges in the UK alleging police corruption.