Background
James Ibori was born on August 4, 1958 in Oghara clan, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State to the family of the late Ukavbe Ibori and Mrs. Comfort Oji Ibori.
James Ibori was born on August 4, 1958 in Oghara clan, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State to the family of the late Ukavbe Ibori and Mrs. Comfort Oji Ibori.
James Ibori attended Baptist High School, Oghareki now called Oghareki Grammar School. Thereafter, he got admission into the University of Benin where he earned a Bachelor of Science in economics and statistics. Ibori moved to London, England in 1980, where he married his wife, Theresa Ibori who then worked as a cashier at Wickes DIY store in Ruislip, Middlesex.
Returning to Nigeria between 1994 and 1997, Ibori served as consultant to the federal government of President Sani Abacha, in the areas of public policy formulation and implementation.
Ibori's political career began in 1990 when he joined the National Republican Convention (NRC). In 1991, he was nominated to contest for the Federal House of Representatives seat to represent Ethiope federal constituency. He lost the election to the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
When the Transitional Program of president Sani Abacha began, he joined the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM). The GDM managed a number of local, state and federal offices, including one of the three senatorial seats in the state. The transition program was abruptly ended with the death of Abacha. Ibori then with the leaders of other extinct political groups in Delta State, formed the Delta National Congress (DNC).
The DNC later merged with other political parties to become the People's Democratic Party (PDP). It was on the platform of PDP that Ibori then contested and won the January 9, 1999 election. In 2003, he was re-elected as governor for another four -year term.
In 2007, the Metropolitan Police raided the London offices of lawyer Bhadresh Gohil where they found computer hard drives containing details of a myriad of off-shore companies, run for Ibori by Gohil. In August 2007, Ibori’s assets valued at about £17 million (N4,7 billion) were frozen in the United Kingdom. In November 2007, his wife, Nkoyo, was arrested at Heathrow Airport in London in connection with the probe of the assets of her husband, particularly in the United Kingdom. However, she was released after being questioned. In December 2007, Ibori was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Kwara State Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, over theft of public funds, abuse of office, and money laundering. Nuhu Ribadu who brought these charges against Ibori additionally alleged that Ibori attempted to bribe him to drop the charges with a cash gift of $15 million (N2,6 billion), which Ribadu immediately lodged in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The cash remains in the CBN as an exhibit. In December 2009, a Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, discharged and acquitted Ibori of all 170 charges of corruption brought against him by EFCC. In April 2010, after Goodluck Jonathan took over the government, Ibori's case file was reopened. A new allegation that he embezzled N40 billion ($266 million) was pressed against him. Later he fled Nigeria, prompting the EFCC to request the assistance of Interpol. In May 2010, Ibori arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates under Interpol arrest warrants, issued from United Kingdom courts and enacted by the Metropolitan Police. Then the Nigerian government and the United Kingdom agreed to work together on Ibori's extradition to the United Kingdom. In June 2010, James Ibori's sister, Christine Ibie-Ibori and his associate, Udoamaka Okoronkwo, were found guilty on counts of money laundering and sentenced to 5 years in prison. At the same time, the Governor of the CBN, Malam Sanusi Lamido revealed that Ibori had used Delta State as collateral for N40 billion loan when he was governor. In April 2012, after Ibori pleaded guilty to ten counts of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud, he was sentenced to 13 years by Southwark Crown Court for his crimes in London.
Despite currently serving a 13-year jail term in the United Kingdom for a series of financial crimes committed while serving as governor of Delta State, James Ibori has being applauded for his thievery. The applause came from the Anglican Bishop of Ughelli Diocese, Rt. Reverend Cyril Odutemu.
At a thanksgiving ceremony held on Sunday at St. Luke's Anglican Church, Otovwodo-Ughelli, Odutemu said: "If every politician in Delta State stole like Ibori, Delta State would have been better off than its current position.".
The thanksgiving ceremony was held by a member of the board of the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Sir Amos Itihwe.
The Bishop took time to explain himself to the gathering brimming with top government dignitaries in the state. : "Take a look around the state today, you would see that as governor, Ibori established institutions of higher learning in every senatorial district of the state," he said.
Quotations: “Alamieyeseigha was lied against, as heaps upon heaps of untruths were piled on him, and national hysteria replaced public discourse whenever the subject was Alamieyeseigha. He was plotted against by those who swore they were fighting on the side of good even though they had taken high seats in the devil’s court."
He is married, and had children