Former governor of Delta state, James Ibori has been sentenced to 13 years by a UK court for money laundering.
UK authorities also say attempts will now be made to confiscate as much of the money as possible, so that it can be returned to the state government.
James Ibori pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court in February to a series of charges linked to the theft of money from Delta state's treasury and fraud involving state-owned shares in a mobile phone firm.
Ibori admitted to a one count of conspiracy to launder money, five counts of money laundering and one of obtaining a property transfer by deception over the theft of more than £25m while he was governor of the region.
He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to make false instruments, and one count of money laundering linked to a $37m (£23.3m) share fraud surrounding the sale of shares in Nigerian company V-Mobile.
Prosecutor Sasha Wass told the court Ibori had accepted he was involved in "wide-scale theft, fraud and corruption when he was governor of Delta state".
Ibori admitted several money laundering charges and deception.
He allegedly used a false date of birth when he ran for the governorship of the state to conceal previous convictions as a criminal record would have excluded him from taking part in the election.
Ms Wass added: "Mr Ibori tricked his way into public office. He had tricked the Nigerian authorities and the Nigerian voters. He was thus never the legitimate governor of Delta state."
According to prosecutors he is 49, but according to the date of birth he used in Nigeria he would be 53.
Ibori was extradited from Dubai to the UK in April 2011 and Detective Inspector Paul Whatmore said it was estimated that Ibori stole around $250m (£157m) from the Nigerian state.
He said: "The scale can only be described as huge. Vast sums of money which were used to fund his lavish lifestyle.
Ibori's wife Theresa, sister Christine Ibori-Idie, mistress Udoamaka Okoronkwo and London-based solicitor Bhadresh Gohil have all already been convicted for their part in the money-laundering.
Daily Trust
He deserves it!