The British Government may soon begin to bar children of corrupt Nigerian politicians from its private schools.
This follows last month’s conviction of a former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, by a London crown court for stealing millions of pounds from the treasury of his state and spending the same to acquire luxury items around the world.
Ibori was convicted and sentenced to 13 years in jail after he pleaded guilty to stealing and laundering over $80m.
In an interview with Cable News Network, the Unit head of the Proceeds of Corruption Unit of London’s Metropolitan Police, Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Benton, gave the hint that some measures would be applied against corrupt Nigerian politicians in the wake of the Ibori conviction.
He said, “We hope that, by tackling the likes of James Ibori, we’re saying to those stealing from the state purse, you can’t have your children at private school in London. You can’t have a multimillion pound house in one of the most affluent areas of London. You can’t drive around in top of the range vehicles. We won’t let you move money around to buy multimillion pound jets.”
The unit, staffed by a dozen or so detectives, traces the flow of foreign politicians’ money through London, and is funded by the UK government’s Department for International Development, which also delivers aid to Africa.
The unit investigated the Ibori case for seven years.
In the special report, CNN writes, ” Ibori employed a range of methods, some straightforward, some devious. He inflated contracts, took kickbacks, and simply transferred cash out of state accounts. He was helped by his family, wife and mistress, as well as by London-based professionals, who set up shell companies, assisted in purchases and provided false due diligence.
“As governor of the oil-rich Delta State in Nigeria, James Ibori’s salary was only $6000 a year, yet he managed to afford luxury properties, fleets of Rolls Royces, a Bentley and a Maybach, first class travel, private boarding school fees and a private jet worth $20 million.”
The report also examined the role played by British banks in aiding Ibori to loot his state’s treasury as well as why Nigerin politicians find London an attractive location for laundered funds.
According to Robert Palmer of anti-corruption NGO, Global Witness, London holds a double attraction for corrupt politicians.
“We are a major financial and legal centre so there’s a lot of expertise, and there’s also a lot of assets that go through the British financial institution, so it’s easier to disguise your assets,” Plamer told CNN.
Palmer, who also believes London seems like a great place to spend “illicit loot,” adds, “There’s a prestige about being able to bring your assets and your wealth into the UK.”
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Angel | 5/10/2012 4:33:34 AMI am in support of this idea. Their children should be banned from London private schools. While they lotter money money from our country and their family are living extravegant life outside the country. f**k Nigeria Government who doesn't give a damn aout their people.
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Lalaland | 5/10/2012 4:43:17 AM |
Very good to know cos those stewpid people thief pass rat sef!! Mtchewww!!!
lolo | 5/10/2012 6:01:47 AM |
pls let them do it quick b4 their children grow finish
Nneoma | 5/10/2012 7:01:41 AM |
Good one! Their children shld not only be banned 4rm their private schools, d steupid thieves shld also be banned 4rm medical treatment abroad and even shopping. Let them build and remain in their country. Pen robbers.
U | 6/4/2012 2:42:34 PM |
i said it, corruption runs through the blood of every niggeria.even the somalia gutters have rejected ur useless country.
Mrs Akudo | 5/10/2012 7:48:55 AM |
Government na James Bond Ibori be d only thief wey una knw? why una no catch am d time wey e dey steal d money? Na now wey e wan enjoy na im una come catch am. Many peeps dey there now dey thief bt una no arrest dem o.
Zedd toey | 5/10/2012 4:35:58 AMIs dis a gud tin 4 dis c**try dey claim dey'r biudin bt kip on tanishin her image in diaspora.
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yanki | 5/10/2012 6:32:11 AMUnited states and Europe should follow suit.
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wuze | 5/10/2012 6:51:17 AMThe same fate awaits most of Nigeria's looters - The west are not f**ls.
They encourage looting because inevitably the money ends up in their pockets. The British can use the money recovered from Ibori as developmental project,for the people of delta state.
Where is Abacha loot ? Where is Ghadaffi external reserves ? Where was the british government when ibori and our corrupt politicians were laundering money into their country ? This is a case of OLE JI,OLE GBA.
Maybe this will serve as a lesson to Nigerians
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Big Tonto | 5/10/2012 8:38:16 AM |
They deserve it! For all the money invested to the investigation, Let them keep it!
If returned, it'll be handed to the next thief-
Nwane | 5/10/2012 8:46:35 AM |
Who care where the loot goes? Afterall, if they send it to Naija, Ibori's cousin (Uduaghan) will "keep it safe" for the shameless criminal to come and enjoy when he finish serving his jail term. Make dem keep am jor. Na person wey do work suppose chop . After all, the Nigerian court say the man no be thief
Promo | 5/10/2012 8:16:44 AMJames ur goin 2 rott in dis jail....im not sure if ur gonna make it back 2 ur father land alive...13yrs no be 13days
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Promo | 5/10/2012 8:18:23 AMJames ur goin 2 rott in dis jail....im not sure if ur gonna make it back 2 ur father land alive...13yrs no be 13days
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mya | 5/10/2012 8:33:16 AMAlthough we may not recover all the the loot back to Nigeria but I credit the British government.Abacha loots that was returned to Nigeria what did we do to it?
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Eye shinner | 5/10/2012 8:35:45 AMBecause Justice cannot be dispensed in Nigeria, The British will not waste their resources to prosecute our criminals without gaining from it,
so my people, plz shine your eyes, IBORI'S CASE NA BUSINESS AS USUAL, SO ITS NOT YET TIME TO CELEBRATE, WE ARE ACTUALLY BEING LAUGHED AT INSTEAD
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Akim | 5/10/2012 8:42:51 AMI thought the Nigerian judiciary discharge and acquitted him. So whats the interest in the loot? Let the British keep it. After all it will be recycled to another waiting stolen hands again. Where are the previous recovered loot kept?w e Nigerians dont seem to see until we are poked. If the Uk didnt find him guilty, wld all u people force the Ibori to bring back the money, when it comes to justice, we are slowpokes but once we hear money, our ears stand like antenna. Let Foreign countries pocket the loot until we learn.
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Sunshine | 5/10/2012 3:02:48 PM |
Hahahaha...You've said it all,that is exactly my point!!
tto | 5/10/2012 8:48:42 AMWhy should they return the money. If our judiciary was functional, Ibori would have been tried in Nigeria and the money recouped there.
Nothing is for free, why should they do our work for us for free, se ohh
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Rubbish | 5/10/2012 8:52:02 AMhe British govt estimated his loot to be about £250million which is over N65billion naira. What is that if not madness!
Fair enough, Ibori admitted that he looted the Delta State treasury, but the key question I often ask myself is, what are the other motives why they (British Authorities) went after him? was ibori the only governor who stole from us, or was he seen as a threat to some Nigerian elites
it is obvious that most Nigerian governors only buy a few houses here in London, and this makes it harder for the authorities to fish them out. Ibori's case was different because he had millions of pounds worth of asset here in London. A city where they can rob you of all your hard work in 1 day, Ibori hustled his way to the top, so I give him that credit, I just think he didn't know how to hide his loot, or he had too much on his plate, , however in the eyes of the British authorities, HE WAS A BIG FISH, !!!!
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kkk | 5/10/2012 8:55:19 AMThis same Ibori was discharged and acquitted of corruption charges in an Asaba court for lack of substantial evidence. What do you make of that? The judicial system in Nigeria is a major contributor of injustice in this country.The witch cried last night and the baby died this morning", who killed the witch?
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Ayinde | 5/10/2012 8:57:10 AMYou mean the British government spent £14 million of tax payers' money prosecuting this case just to return the loot back to Nigeria?If you believe that then i've got the deeds of the Golden Gate bridge if anyone is interested
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Angel | 5/10/2012 9:00:13 AMDid you follow up the whole story? Not what you reld here on NFC now. Ibori was also a thief in London, He stole alot of money and by the way, the money and asset we are talking about here is in Great Britain Currency; so Ibori had to be probed and setenced to jail there in London.
On the other hand, if the case was to be handled in Nigeria the corrupt system will not give justice to it.
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kwami | 5/10/2012 10:12:06 AMNigerians know how to complain. But they do nothing about it and the looting continues. Because, most Nigerians actually believe that if you can't beat them, join them. Others are waiting for their own opportunities to loot? Once foreign banks start probing them , then they will think twice
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Fed up | 5/10/2012 10:14:17 AMNIGERIA IS A FAILED NATION.......NOTHING MORE TO SAY ABOUT IT
its no longer mind-boggling. I'm not justifying looting, I'm just saying they have made a poor country poorer. I need to take my share of the loot - before the country goes into abyss... I'm surprised the country still exist, after looking at the amount of money that has been sucked out of it.
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Parthiban | 4/10/2013 5:22:09 PMHello Karyn,Great idea that you have brought forth to us. I'll dscsuis it with the other staff members and see if it can be implemented.Thank you for being interested in how we can improve our site for the community.It is much appreciated.Strelet
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