On-ibori-again-to-repay-117m-in-confiscation-court-hearing
September 7, 2020 | News
ON IBORI AGAIN - TO REPAY £117M IN CONFISCATION COURT HEARING
With recent reports that the United Kingdom is making moves to confiscate £117 Million worth of properties linked to former Delta State, James Ibori, which were parts of proceeds of stolen Delta State public funds meant to develop the State, I cannot help but wonder if those that have been supporting, praising and speaking for James Ibori as an ex-convict, would still have the audacity to continue defending this former Delta State Governor who has stolen from the State to a bleeding point. If they do, then they obviously have no iota of shame like Ibori, and as such, should be publicly disgraced, spat on, booed and even stoned by the masses at every slightest opportunity because they are part of the problem responsible for the underdevelopment of Delta State.
Most of the UK newspapers' Headlines on August 28 and 29, 2020, were on Ibori's confiscation court hearing. One of the UK newspapers headline read: "£117m PAYBACK TIME, Wickes Cashier Turned Nigerian Governor Who Looted Public Purse Faces Confiscation Order." It went on to note how 'Ibori cheated his way into the position of a Governor. This was said by the prosecutor Jonathan Kinnear, QC. And how Ibori abused his position of public trust, by systematically looting funds meant for the development of Delta State while he was in office from 1999 to 2007.
According to most of the reports, James Ibori, 62, had rigged government contracts and lifted raw cash from Delta State public funds, and was helped by his wife, Theresa Ibori; mistress, Udoamaka Onuigbo; sister, Christine, and other corrupt officials, a confiscation hearing at Southwark crown court was told. Ibori bought luxuries for himself and family, and was living large while majority of Deltans were, and are still living in abject poverty and lack.
Prosecutors from the London Metropolitan Police found that Mr. Ibori used the money he stole from Delta State to buy six houses in London. He even paid £2.2 million in cash for one of those mansions in Tony Hampstead, UK. He also bought a £13 million jet, a £600,000 fleet of Range Rovers, and a £120,000 Bentley car. Ibori also put his children in expensive British private schools while sharing the stolen funds with his wife, sister and mistress. London’s The Metro newspaper reports that Ibori, a known pilferer/thief at Wickes, a UK departmental store he worked in the late 90s before he became Governor, is desperately trying to retain some of the properties, claiming he acquired them legitimately. We can imagine such shameless audacity - claiming that the money he stole from Delta State to buy those properties, were acquired legitimately.
Though, Ibori was jailed in the UK after HE ADMITTED to money laundering and fraud in 2012, and later returned to Nigeria, but he clearly is still not remorseful or sorry for the fraudulent atrocities he has committed against Delta State. If he is, he would have done the needful, and quietly live a low profile life. Perhaps, as an elder statesman in his Oghara community on the right path.
His ridiculous claims are obviously evidence of a man who has refused to repent and turn a new leaf. And now, Ibori faces paying back £116,821,955. And his mistress, Udoamaka Onuigbo — who was jailed for money laundering with his wife Theresa and sister Christine — may have to repay £2.6million.
Ibori, who appeared in court with Onuigbo via video link recently, moved to London in the 1980s, and worked at Wickes. After a conviction for stealing, he returned to Nigeria and cheated and scaled the government ranks to get to where he is today. Sadly, that is the same man many Urhobo elites and ignorant Urhobo people are today still calling/praising and hailing him as their "hero." And yet we are crying of underdevelopment in the Niger-Delta. How can we develop as a State and as a people when the likes of Ibori are still given the red carpet and praised? By that disposition and public actions, are we not promoting thievery, corruption in the public space, and the pilfering of our collective wealth by public office holders? What a shame!
Recently, Ibori was appointed by the Nigerian Former Governors Forum, as their Grand Patron, which is more like endorsement of the official looting of public wealth. The majority of Urhobo Leaders, supposed men of God/Bishops/Pastors, and Traditional Rulers of the Delta Central (Urhobo Land), are apparently shameless to have given a red carpet reception to James Ibori on his return from UK prison few years ago. As sad as this might sound, Ibori still determines the politics of the Urhobo people in Delta State. What a shame! Imagine Urhobo politicians still troop to his Oghara home in Ethiope-West of Delta state, to be in his good book and seek for his supposed blessings. Agreed that James Ibori is one of us in Urhobo land, but he should not be the one to dictate/anoint Urhobo Politicians to be in public office positions, neither should he be the one to impose a Governor in Delta state. James Ibori as a person, does not have that integrity to be allowed to command such influence. It should be a shame that a world known Ex-convict like James Ibori is still in charge of the politics in Delta State. The so-called Delta State elites still consult him as their hero/mentor. And I wonder for what? Is it to teach them how to steal public wealth or what?
The usual statement is, "why is Zik Gbemre always criticising James Ibori? Na our brother. Leave am alone. Na our money. Leave am for God." But if we allow a deliberate entrenchment of crime in our society, then we are encouraging and promoting evil in the country. If we are praising James Ibori for stealing public wealth, then we should not complain of underdevelopment in the South-South of the Niger-Delta region.
While James Ibori's confiscation court hearing still continues, I pray that Deltans and Nigerians in the State, would develop the courage and voice to strongly speak against these shameless politicians in Delta State, and shame them whenever the opportunity presents itself. Until they genuinely turn a new leaf, and return all they have stolen from the State. Otherwise, posterity will never forgive them, and karma will catch up with them, and even their future generations to come. For whatever a man sows, that, he shall surely reap, unless he genuinely repents.
Zik Gbemre.
August 31, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
With recent reports that the United Kingdom is making moves to confiscate £117 Million worth of properties linked to former Delta State, James Ibori, which were parts of proceeds of stolen Delta State public funds meant to develop the State, I cannot help but wonder if those that have been supporting, praising and speaking for James Ibori as an ex-convict, would still have the audacity to continue defending this former Delta State Governor who has stolen from the State to a bleeding point. If they do, then they obviously have no iota of shame like Ibori, and as such, should be publicly disgraced, spat on, booed and even stoned by the masses at every slightest opportunity because they are part of the problem responsible for the underdevelopment of Delta State.
Most of the UK newspapers' Headlines on August 28 and 29, 2020, were on Ibori's confiscation court hearing. One of the UK newspapers headline read: "£117m PAYBACK TIME, Wickes Cashier Turned Nigerian Governor Who Looted Public Purse Faces Confiscation Order." It went on to note how 'Ibori cheated his way into the position of a Governor. This was said by the prosecutor Jonathan Kinnear, QC. And how Ibori abused his position of public trust, by systematically looting funds meant for the development of Delta State while he was in office from 1999 to 2007.
According to most of the reports, James Ibori, 62, had rigged government contracts and lifted raw cash from Delta State public funds, and was helped by his wife, Theresa Ibori; mistress, Udoamaka Onuigbo; sister, Christine, and other corrupt officials, a confiscation hearing at Southwark crown court was told. Ibori bought luxuries for himself and family, and was living large while majority of Deltans were, and are still living in abject poverty and lack.
Prosecutors from the London Metropolitan Police found that Mr. Ibori used the money he stole from Delta State to buy six houses in London. He even paid £2.2 million in cash for one of those mansions in Tony Hampstead, UK. He also bought a £13 million jet, a £600,000 fleet of Range Rovers, and a £120,000 Bentley car. Ibori also put his children in expensive British private schools while sharing the stolen funds with his wife, sister and mistress. London’s The Metro newspaper reports that Ibori, a known pilferer/thief at Wickes, a UK departmental store he worked in the late 90s before he became Governor, is desperately trying to retain some of the properties, claiming he acquired them legitimately. We can imagine such shameless audacity - claiming that the money he stole from Delta State to buy those properties, were acquired legitimately.
Though, Ibori was jailed in the UK after HE ADMITTED to money laundering and fraud in 2012, and later returned to Nigeria, but he clearly is still not remorseful or sorry for the fraudulent atrocities he has committed against Delta State. If he is, he would have done the needful, and quietly live a low profile life. Perhaps, as an elder statesman in his Oghara community on the right path.
His ridiculous claims are obviously evidence of a man who has refused to repent and turn a new leaf. And now, Ibori faces paying back £116,821,955. And his mistress, Udoamaka Onuigbo — who was jailed for money laundering with his wife Theresa and sister Christine — may have to repay £2.6million.
Ibori, who appeared in court with Onuigbo via video link recently, moved to London in the 1980s, and worked at Wickes. After a conviction for stealing, he returned to Nigeria and cheated and scaled the government ranks to get to where he is today. Sadly, that is the same man many Urhobo elites and ignorant Urhobo people are today still calling/praising and hailing him as their "hero." And yet we are crying of underdevelopment in the Niger-Delta. How can we develop as a State and as a people when the likes of Ibori are still given the red carpet and praised? By that disposition and public actions, are we not promoting thievery, corruption in the public space, and the pilfering of our collective wealth by public office holders? What a shame!
Recently, Ibori was appointed by the Nigerian Former Governors Forum, as their Grand Patron, which is more like endorsement of the official looting of public wealth. The majority of Urhobo Leaders, supposed men of God/Bishops/Pastors, and Traditional Rulers of the Delta Central (Urhobo Land), are apparently shameless to have given a red carpet reception to James Ibori on his return from UK prison few years ago. As sad as this might sound, Ibori still determines the politics of the Urhobo people in Delta State. What a shame! Imagine Urhobo politicians still troop to his Oghara home in Ethiope-West of Delta state, to be in his good book and seek for his supposed blessings. Agreed that James Ibori is one of us in Urhobo land, but he should not be the one to dictate/anoint Urhobo Politicians to be in public office positions, neither should he be the one to impose a Governor in Delta state. James Ibori as a person, does not have that integrity to be allowed to command such influence. It should be a shame that a world known Ex-convict like James Ibori is still in charge of the politics in Delta State. The so-called Delta State elites still consult him as their hero/mentor. And I wonder for what? Is it to teach them how to steal public wealth or what?
The usual statement is, "why is Zik Gbemre always criticising James Ibori? Na our brother. Leave am alone. Na our money. Leave am for God." But if we allow a deliberate entrenchment of crime in our society, then we are encouraging and promoting evil in the country. If we are praising James Ibori for stealing public wealth, then we should not complain of underdevelopment in the South-South of the Niger-Delta region.
While James Ibori's confiscation court hearing still continues, I pray that Deltans and Nigerians in the State, would develop the courage and voice to strongly speak against these shameless politicians in Delta State, and shame them whenever the opportunity presents itself. Until they genuinely turn a new leaf, and return all they have stolen from the State. Otherwise, posterity will never forgive them, and karma will catch up with them, and even their future generations to come. For whatever a man sows, that, he shall surely reap, unless he genuinely repents.
Zik Gbemre.
August 31, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes