Ibori expected to be released in December having served half of his 13-year jail term

FORMER Delta State governor Chief James Ibori is hopeful to leave prison in December this year having served half of his 13 year jail term behind bars following his conviction for money laundering and corruption.

 

In 2012, Chief Ibori was sentenced to 13 years in jail by Southwark Crown Court but having been held in custody prior to his conviction, by December, he would have spent about half of his term in jail. As is normal under British procedures, Chief Ibori is due to be released in December after serving half his sentence, taking into account pre-trial detention.

 

However, it is not clear whether he will immediately return home because legal proceedings concerning the confiscation of his assets, worth tens of millions of dollars, remain unresolved. They were supposed to have been resolved years ago but have ground to a halt due to the allegations of police corruption and the prospect of Chief Ibori taking his case to the Court of Appeal.

 

A London court was told on Friday that Chief Ibori would appeal against his conviction on the grounds that British police and lawyers involved in his case were themselves corrupt. While in office, Chief Ibori was reported to have acquired luxury properties in Britain, the US, South Africa and Nigeria.