James Onanefe Ibori, former governor of
Nigeria’s oil rich Delta state, has been sentenced to thirteen years in jail by
a London Judge for stealing government funds in Nigeria.
This is the third time Mr
Ibori, a serial thief, got sentenced for theft in London.
Judge Anthony Pitts has
sentenced former Governor James Ibori to 13 years in prison for money
laundering.
The judge said he “recognizes
that there is another side to the man James ibori,” but that he was not “the
proper person to judge your achievements and failings as a governor. That is up
to the people of Delta State.”
Mr. Ibori looked lost and
forlorn as Judge Pitts spoke before announcing his jail sentence.
The judge disclosed that, if
Mr. Ibori had fought the case, he would be looking at a 24-year jail sentence,
but noted that the former governor got a reprieve for pleading guilty. He then
sentenced Mr. Ibori to 13 years in prison.
Judge Pitts deducted 645 days
that the former governor had already spent in jail, ordering that Mr. Ibori
serve the rest of his sentence in a British jail. A legal source in the UK said
that Mr. Ibori is bound to spend at least 7 years in a UK prison.
Judge Pitts rose and is
expected to reconvene soon to sort out confiscation hearings.
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