•Ex-gov freed from prison, put under house arrest

•Delta agog as kinsmen, political associates jubilate

Temporary respite came the way of former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, yesterday in the United Kingdom after a Royal Court of Justice Court 1, London, ordered his release from Huntcombe Prison.

But the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, did not intend to deport Ibori to Nigeria until he handed over £18 million (about N7 billion at interbank rate) of “proceeds of crime” to the government.

Ibori’s release came following the crash of a lastminute effort by the UK Homeland Office to keep him in prison after serving out his jail term. However, the former governor will be confined to house arrest on Abbey Road, St. John’s Wood area in London pending a confiscation hearing scheduled for January.

The former governor is expected to be visiting the Croydon Police Station regularly before his final appearance in court in 2017. Ibori, a.k.a Odidigborigbo of Africa, was jailed on April 17, 2012, for 13 years by the Southwark Crown Court after pleading guilty to 10 counts of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud. He was, however, due for release on Tuesday after serving half of his sentence.

Ruling yesterday in the application by the UK government to request for an extension of Ibori’s prison remand, Mrs. Justice May declined the request and ordered the immediate release of the ex-governor from prison.

“You don’t hold someone just because it is convenient to do so and without plans to deport them,” the judge held. The Home Office had argued before the court that the government was concerned that Ibori might “frustrate confiscation proceedings” and, therefore, wanted him kept in jail or subject to strict controls on his movement.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which is pursuing the confiscation proceedings, was “neutral” about Ibori’s release and possible deportation. In his explanation in court on Wednesday, Ibori’s counsel, Ivan Krolic, explained how another defendant in the fraud case had appealed against conviction on the grounds that “police officers in the investigations had been corrupt”.

Krolic said: “The court of appeal rejected that, after counsel for the Crown indicated that there was nothing to support the allegation.” In her ruling to order Ibori’s release, May said: “The Secretary of State appears to have taken it upon herself that Mr. Ibori does remain in this country, in apparent contradiction of the order served earlier this year to deport him.

“The position of the Secretary of State, as very candidly set out by Mr. Birdling (representing the home secretary), is that she accepts that there is an argument that she has no power to detain him. “I have decided that the balance of convenience falls heavily in favour of his immediate release. “I am not prepared to impose conditions involving tagging or curfews.”

The judge said the matter of Ibori’s deportation should be heard before the end of January. A Home Office application that Ibori be electronically tagged and subjected to strict curfew conditions was also rejected.

The judge accepted arguments that the Home Secretary was attempting to misuse her immigration and deportation powers. Ibori’s conviction followed a government anticorruption campaign led by the Department for International Development (DfID) 10 years ago.

But earlier this year, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, demanded a review of the evidence following allegations that police took bribes and prosecutors covered it up.

“The review team found material to support the assertion that a police officer received payment in return for information,” the CPS admitted in September. Ibori was jailed for fraud totalling nearly £50 million in April 2012.

He evaded arrest in Nigeria after a mob of supporters attacked police, but was arrested in Dubai in 2010 and extradited to the UK, where he was prosecuted based on evidence from the Metropolitan Police.

Ibori, who ruled Delta from 1999-2007, was one of the most influential governors during his time and he established a political dynasty in Delta State.

https://newtelegraphonline.com/britain-demands-n7bn-iboris-deportation/

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

No comment for now.

what

7biilion?

No wahala... You can keep him

Ibori now, knowing that bihari no go pay that money and he won't be visiting Nigeria soon..

Odidigborigbo of Africa
Abeg come back, we need more strong men to power the South South.

N7B, from who exactly? What exactly do they mean by 'proceeds of crime'?

Delta State Government will pay that cash, Surely Okowa will want Ibori on his political Side

D

Nigerian will tell you, that Britain should keep ibori. Nigerian does not pay an money for his citizen. If they kidnap you, in Nigeria.

nextprince:
N7B, from who exactly? What exactly do they mean by 'proceeds of crime'?

Thats the British for you... For everything they do, they always want financial reward... You claim the person is a criminal and sentenced him, now you wanna share from the proceeds of his criminality... Lol

KINGwax007:
Ibori now, knowing that bihari no go pay that money and he won't be visiting Nigeria soon..

If the money is just the issue, Bros forget, only oghara people go donate am... Lol.

But on a serious note, don't be surprise to hear that the money has been paid already. Delta state government as foolish as they are will do it undercover. The British know Ibori is very valuable hence they are to make some cash for the free feeding and care they have been giving him all these years.. Proceeds of crime indeed.... Yeye dey smell.

Jessestunch:


Thats the British for you... For everything they do, they always financial reward... You claim the person is a criminal and sentenced him, now you wanna share from the proceeds of his criminality... Lol

Is that exactly what they mean? Are sure u there is no mix up somewhere somehow?

Oo

nextprince:


Is that exactly what they mean? Are sure there is no mix up somewhere somehow?

My brother I just explained from a layman's view anyway.. Maybe unless someone more enlightened comes in to explain better... But the statement "proceed of crime" is self explanatory na

Edited...layman's understandIng of the common term, 'proceeds of crime'..

Now let me hint you: he was convicted based on funds he transferred to UK...what the prosecutors are praying is that the court should also cease some of those funds..

It does not mean someone is expected to pay the proceeds of crime before he could be released..

The proceeds of crime is already on ground, the UK govt just want legal backing to finally make it officially their's..

Segobe!!

Make Una Keep Ibori Now. The Wahala Na For Am To Die For Una Hand. Na There Una Go Know Say Nigeria Go Come For Una.

On A Serious Note, I Like The Part That Reads; "You Can't Keep Someone Because It's Convenient To Do So...".

You Could Still Have Made This Point Without Insulting People. I Read Where Someone Said He's Looking At It As Layman. Did Anyone Of Them Feign Expert?

BeClever:
All the comments above indicate_ that most of you are either choking on expired beans or could not simply understand the common term, 'proceeds of crime'..

Now let me hint you: he was convicted based on funds he transferred to UK...what the prosecutors are praying is that the court should also cease some of those funds..

It does not mean someone is expected to pay the proceeds of crime before he could be released..

The proceeds of crime is already on ground, the UK govt just want legal backing to finally make it officially their's..

Segobe!!

Jessestunch:


My brother I just explained from a layman's view anyway.. Maybe unless someone more enlightened comes in to explain better... But the statement "proceed of crime" is self explanatory na

Yeah, it might be self explanatory when taken by its literal meaning but looking at it that way doesn't seem to appeal to common sense and that is why I assumed something is missing. Because by its face meaning, it is just like telling a prison inmate who has just completed his jail term to pay for his upkeep while in prison b4 he gets his freedom.
Anyway, let's wait for experts' explanation, as u said.

Hostage!

BeClever:
All the comments above indicate_ that most of you are either choking on expired beans or could not simply understand the common term, 'proceeds of crime'..

Now let me hint you: he was convicted based on funds he transferred to UK...what the prosecutors are praying is that the court should also cease some of those funds..

It does not mean someone is expected to pay the proceeds of crime before he could be released..

The proceeds of crime is already on ground, the UK govt just want legal backing to finally make it officially their's..

Segobe!!

Thanks for ur explanation but u could have done that without being insultive.
Thanks though.

castrokins:
You Could Still Have Made This Point Without Insulting People. I Read Where Someone Said He's Looking At It As Layman. Did Anyone Of Them Feign Expert?

I just tire oh!

unclezuma:


Hostage!

Not local oh, bit international one oh

castrokins:
You Could Still Have Made This Point Without Insulting People. I Read Where Someone Said He's Looking At It As Layman. Did Anyone Of Them Feign Expert?

Forgive me, sometimes NL pass as a fertile ground for incautious vents..

nextprince:


Thanks for ur explanation but u could have done that without being insultive.
Thanks though.

Forgive a brother, I guess it's becoming NL 'addicveness'

Ibori better stay back in UK before Buhari give am 100yrs sentence. As for the money, that's a chicken change to his associates.

BeClever:
All the comments above indicate_ that most of you are either choking on expired beans or could not simply understand the common term, 'proceeds of crime'..

Now let me hint you: he was convicted based on funds he transferred to UK...what the prosecutors are praying is that the court should also cease some of those funds..

It does not mean someone is expected to pay the proceeds of crime before he could be released..

The proceeds of crime is already on ground, the UK govt just want legal backing to finally make it officially their's..

Segobe!!

and the monies to be ceased is it the UKs money

Isn't it ibori/ nigerias money

Abeg the uk wants money joor ..let them cut to the chase with all these rubbish proceedings...

bayelsaowei:
and the monies to be ceased is it the UKs money

Isn't it ibori/ nigerias money

Abeg the uk wants money joor ..let them cut to the chase with all these rubbish proceedings...

. As in the thing tire me oh

Who is supposed to pay the 7bn? Ibori, delta state government or the Federal Government?

They should kukuma keep him in the prison for life. Deltans don't need him in Nigeria

bayelsaowei:
and the monies to be ceased is it the UKs money

Isn't it ibori/ nigerias money

Abeg the uk wants money joor ..let them cut to the chase with all these rubbish proceedings...

Of course they want money, who doesn't want money
..
Do you know what the prosecutors would gain if they succeeds in confiscating such amount?

This to them is a landmark achievement and to them might even be a life time recognizing achievement..

The funds they are after is already comfortably lodged in one or multiples of Ibori's/relatives understandably PND(pay no debt) accounts(common term: frozen accounts) .

And these guy will leave no stone untouched till they grab a chunck of it..

Even the Dubai that repatriated him will get a share..

BeClever:



Of course they want money, who doesn't want money
..
Do you know what the prosecutors would gain if they succeeds in confiscating such amount?

This to them is a landmark achievement and to them might even be a life time recognizing achievement..

The funds they are after is already comfortably lodged in one or multiples of Ibori's/relatives understandably PND(pay no debt) accounts..

And these guy will leave no stone untouched till they grab a chunck of it..

Even the Dubai that repatriated him will get a share..

They are all thieves...lovers of cash...

Let them leave our money alone o we need am..

BeeBeeOoh:
Not local oh, bit international one oh

Come siddon, the film go soon start...