More than £4million stolen by corrupt Nigerian state governor will be returned to the country after being found in the UK
- Money was stolen by Nigerian state governor James Ibori and his associates
- He was given a 13-year prison sentence in April 2012 after pleading guilty
- British authorities have claimed he gained at least £117million from fraud
More than £4million of funds stolen by a corrupt Nigerian state governor will be returned to the country after it was found in the UK.
The money, stolen by former Nigerian state governor James Ibori and his associates, will be spent on infrastructure and building works for the Nigerian people, the Foreign Office said.
Ibori was given a 13-year prison sentence in April 2012 after he pleaded guilty to 10 criminal charges over the appropriation of massive amounts of public funds during his two terms as governor of Delta State.
As he had spent time in custody in the United Arab Emirates prior to his extradition and conviction in the UK, he was released in 2016 and left the UK in 2017.
The money, stolen by former Nigerian state governor James Ibori and his associates, will be spent on infrastructure and building works for the Nigerian people, the Foreign Office said
Ibori was given a 13-year prison sentence in April 2012 after he pleaded guilty to 10 criminal charges over the appropriation of massive amounts of public funds during his two terms as governor of Delta State. Pictured: A Bentley owned by Ibori
Ibori appeared at Southwark Crown Court via videolink from Nigeria last year to hear legal arguments as part of efforts to prevent criminals from financially gaining from their crimes.
British authorities have claimed he gained at least £117million from fraud and said he has identified assets of at least £46million.
Some £4.2million was retrieved through operations led by UK law enforcement agencies who identified assets bought in the UK with illicit funds and recovered them.
The Metropolitan Police Service, National Crime Agency, Crown Prosecution Service were involved in the operations.
As he had spent time in custody in the United Arab Emirates prior to his extradition and conviction in the UK, he was released in 2016 and left the UK in 2017. Pictured: One of Ibori’s private properties in London
An agreement between the UK and Nigeria was reached in 2016 to return assets seized from criminals and this is the first time it has been used.
Africa Minister James Duddridge said: ‘When money is stolen from public funds it hits the poorest communities the hardest and means money can’t be spent where it’s most needed.
‘The UK’s work on this case to recover millions of pounds will support vital infrastructure and building works.
‘The UK and Nigeria will continue to work together to tackle crime and corruption across our nations.’
Home Office Minister Baroness Williams added: ‘This is a significant moment in our fight against illicit finance wherever it is found.
An agreement between the UK and Nigeria was reached in 2016 to return assets seized from criminals and this is the first time it has been used. Pictured: Ibori’s wife Theresa
‘Recovering the proceeds of crime is a critical part of our fight against serious crime and this sends a clear message to criminals that we will relentlessly pursue them, their assets and their money.’
Chief crown prosecutor for CPS proceeds of crime Adrian Foster said: ‘Corruption anywhere is corrosive and has a drastic impact on the lives of the people where money is embezzled from.
‘Where there is international corruption carried out from England and Wales, we will robustly prosecute and deprive individuals of their ill-gotten gains.
‘Thanks to diligent and complex work of our prosecutors, £4.2 million is being returned to the people of Nigeria and will go towards projects which will massively benefit the country.
‘This forms part of the CPS’s ongoing asset recovery work.’
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