James Ibori
Despite fresh evidence that the police took bribes during the
prosecution of former Governor James Ibori of Delta state, Britain’s State prosecution
agency stated that his conviction remains valid.
The former Governor was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2012 for
fraud, money laundering and other crimes. Meanwhile, the case became heated
after one of his aides accused of money laundering Bhadresh Gohil, said the
judicial process was contaminated because prosecutors had covered up facts of
police corruption.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had in May confirmed it discovered
“material (evidence) to support the assertion that a police officer received
payment in return for information.”
Following an internal review of the case that has been continuing for
the last months, the CPS said on September 15, 2016, that though the material
“should have been disclosed to the defence,” it did not call into question the
legitimacy of the convictions of Ibori, Gohil and others.
Therefore, Ibori’s conviction holds.
The lawyers of both convicted could challenge the findings of the CPS
review in the next court hearing. Proceedings on the confiscation of Ibori’s
assets are still dragging on.
The former Nigerian governor was sentenced by Southwark Crown Court on
April 17, 2012 after being found guilty of stealing $250 million from Nigerian
treasury.
Mr. Ibori pleaded guilty to ten counts of money laundering and theft
of public funds. His houses in Hampstead, Shaftesbury, South Africa, fleets of
cars were seized.
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