On-united-kingdom-uk-government-set-to-return-9-6-m-dollars-ibori-loot-to-nigeria
September 7, 2020 | News
ON UNITED KINGDOM (UK) GOVERNMENT SET TO RETURN $9.6M IBORI LOOT TO NIGERIA
With recent reports that the United Kingdom (UK) Government is currently concluding the process of returning $9.6m said to be looted by former Delta State governor, ex-convict James Ibori, to Nigeria, we strongly urge that the relevant Federal Government Authorities and anti-graft agencies, should ensure that every dime of the said to-be-repatriated loot, be accounted for and used to improve the living standards of the people of Delta State.
Though, the said report noted that the move follows months of pushing by the Nigerian Government, who have already submitted three proposals to UK authorities on how the money would be spent, however, as regard the other aspects of the report that also noted that the Delta State Government is unaware of the situation, and that all three proposals submitted by Nigeria to the UK will have no direct benefit for the state and its people; we ask that the Federal Government should come out and clear the air, and let Deltans know exactly what their intentions are concerning the said recovered money.
While the report also noted that, the Chairman of Delta State Civil Society Roundtable on Grand Corruption, Pastor Innocent Adjenughure, has already come out and said that it was wrong for the Delta State Government not to be carried along in the recovery of the said fund since it was stolen from its coffers; for us, we believe the Delta State Government should not even have anything hand in how the said funds will be utilized because there is every likelihood that the money will end up in their private pockets, or fleeced by the same set of politicians that are still being ‘zombied’ and under the ‘directive-influence’ of their supposed ‘hero’ and ‘political-father’ – James Ibori. As such, the said $9.6m planned to be returned into Nigeria, might end up in the hands of the same set of politicians and the ex-convict Ibori that stole the money in the first place. We therefore believe that the Federal Government should, by themselves, use the said to-be-recovered funds for Federal capital infrastructural projects that would solely benefit the common masses of Delta State. And that such spending of the said loot by the Federal Government, should be transparently done for the people of Delta State to know exactly what it was expended for.
Related to this, another recent report revealed that, three years after his release from UK prison, James Ibori is facing a fresh issue that could cause him to return 117 million Pounds alleged loot. The new hearing, is taking place at Southwark Crown Court in the UK where Ibori was earlier jailed and released in December 2016. The report reiterated the fact that the former Delta State Governor had spent huge funds on luxuries of life and assets abroad. Part of these are fleets of cars and homes. Jonathan Kinnear, the prosecutor in the case, is quoted as noting that Ibori’s wealth comes without an explanation concerning its source, and this raises questions as to alleged corruption against him. The prosecutor also noted how Ibori used different people to carry out deals and that this included his wife, Theresa, a mistress, Onuigbo, and his sisters, Christine Christine Ibori-Idie, who all faced jail terms.
As for those who still regard James Ibori as their supposed hero and political godfather that must anoint every political aspirant in the State Government space, they should see for themselves some of the left-over results of their ex-convict-crowned hero. The said $9.6m was part of Delta State funds, which Ibori was said to have stolen, and which was meant for the development of the State and its people. It is that same stolen funds, which Ibori was sent to jail for by the UK Court, that the Delta State Government is now clamouring to have repatriated to them. With these developments, should anyone still be in doubt that Ibori seriously didn’t commit havoc against the good people and the economy of Delta State?
Now the question is, should a man of Ibori’s stature and record, still be celebrated and appreciated for having served a jail term over financial crimes he committed against Delta State? Should a person like Ibori, be allowed to anoint every person that will be elected or appointed at different levels of Delta State Government? What justifications can they muster, to have allowed Ibori to continue lording it over the Urhobo elites, some of whom have been turned into ‘morons’, by accepting Ibori as their leader. No sane society and group of people, will reward and recognise such a man and take him as their leader. I only implore the few Urhobo elites, that still think straight and are known to be on the right path, to not recognise Ibori as their leader, and not allow him dictate to them concerning the affairs of the Urhobo nation and Delta State. Ibori and his ‘dirty legacy’, should be done away with and completely stayed away from, should also not be part of anything concerning Delta State’s future development across all boards. Besides, “no be me jail Ibori for UK ooh!”
Zik Gbemre.
January 15, 2019
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
With recent reports that the United Kingdom (UK) Government is currently concluding the process of returning $9.6m said to be looted by former Delta State governor, ex-convict James Ibori, to Nigeria, we strongly urge that the relevant Federal Government Authorities and anti-graft agencies, should ensure that every dime of the said to-be-repatriated loot, be accounted for and used to improve the living standards of the people of Delta State.
Though, the said report noted that the move follows months of pushing by the Nigerian Government, who have already submitted three proposals to UK authorities on how the money would be spent, however, as regard the other aspects of the report that also noted that the Delta State Government is unaware of the situation, and that all three proposals submitted by Nigeria to the UK will have no direct benefit for the state and its people; we ask that the Federal Government should come out and clear the air, and let Deltans know exactly what their intentions are concerning the said recovered money.
While the report also noted that, the Chairman of Delta State Civil Society Roundtable on Grand Corruption, Pastor Innocent Adjenughure, has already come out and said that it was wrong for the Delta State Government not to be carried along in the recovery of the said fund since it was stolen from its coffers; for us, we believe the Delta State Government should not even have anything hand in how the said funds will be utilized because there is every likelihood that the money will end up in their private pockets, or fleeced by the same set of politicians that are still being ‘zombied’ and under the ‘directive-influence’ of their supposed ‘hero’ and ‘political-father’ – James Ibori. As such, the said $9.6m planned to be returned into Nigeria, might end up in the hands of the same set of politicians and the ex-convict Ibori that stole the money in the first place. We therefore believe that the Federal Government should, by themselves, use the said to-be-recovered funds for Federal capital infrastructural projects that would solely benefit the common masses of Delta State. And that such spending of the said loot by the Federal Government, should be transparently done for the people of Delta State to know exactly what it was expended for.
Related to this, another recent report revealed that, three years after his release from UK prison, James Ibori is facing a fresh issue that could cause him to return 117 million Pounds alleged loot. The new hearing, is taking place at Southwark Crown Court in the UK where Ibori was earlier jailed and released in December 2016. The report reiterated the fact that the former Delta State Governor had spent huge funds on luxuries of life and assets abroad. Part of these are fleets of cars and homes. Jonathan Kinnear, the prosecutor in the case, is quoted as noting that Ibori’s wealth comes without an explanation concerning its source, and this raises questions as to alleged corruption against him. The prosecutor also noted how Ibori used different people to carry out deals and that this included his wife, Theresa, a mistress, Onuigbo, and his sisters, Christine Christine Ibori-Idie, who all faced jail terms.
As for those who still regard James Ibori as their supposed hero and political godfather that must anoint every political aspirant in the State Government space, they should see for themselves some of the left-over results of their ex-convict-crowned hero. The said $9.6m was part of Delta State funds, which Ibori was said to have stolen, and which was meant for the development of the State and its people. It is that same stolen funds, which Ibori was sent to jail for by the UK Court, that the Delta State Government is now clamouring to have repatriated to them. With these developments, should anyone still be in doubt that Ibori seriously didn’t commit havoc against the good people and the economy of Delta State?
Now the question is, should a man of Ibori’s stature and record, still be celebrated and appreciated for having served a jail term over financial crimes he committed against Delta State? Should a person like Ibori, be allowed to anoint every person that will be elected or appointed at different levels of Delta State Government? What justifications can they muster, to have allowed Ibori to continue lording it over the Urhobo elites, some of whom have been turned into ‘morons’, by accepting Ibori as their leader. No sane society and group of people, will reward and recognise such a man and take him as their leader. I only implore the few Urhobo elites, that still think straight and are known to be on the right path, to not recognise Ibori as their leader, and not allow him dictate to them concerning the affairs of the Urhobo nation and Delta State. Ibori and his ‘dirty legacy’, should be done away with and completely stayed away from, should also not be part of anything concerning Delta State’s future development across all boards. Besides, “no be me jail Ibori for UK ooh!”
Zik Gbemre.
January 15, 2019
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes