UK To Return £4.2m Ibori loot

Posted by Nwa Diokpa Featured, Latest Headlines, News, News Across Nigeria Tuesday, March 9th, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The United Kingdom says it is committed to assisting Nigeria in returning £4.2 million loot recovered from former governor of Delta state, James Ibori and his associates.

British high commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to that effect with attorney-general of the federation, Abubakar Malami, in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to Laing, the money recovered from Ibori’s family and friends will be brought back to the country soon.

She mentioned that UK is making plans to block moves to siphon public funds from Nigeria to the country.

It will be recalled that in 2012, a UK court sentenced Ibori to prison after convicting him of fraud and money laundering.

Ibori pleaded guilty to a 10-count charge of fraud involving sums amounting to about $66 million and was handed a 13-year jail term but came back to Nigeria in February 2017 after serving part of his term.

The former governor later filed an appeal against his conviction but it was dismissed by a UK court.