Ibori to be sentenced April 16

[DT]

Former Governor of Delta state, Chief James Ibori, 54, has pleaded guilty in a UK court to 10 counts of money-laundering and conspiracy to defraud, bringing his more than 4 year battle with the authorities in the United Kingdom, one step closer to its end.

British police accused him of stealing about N60 bn (£250m or $400m) over eight years.

Mr Ibori, once seen as one of Nigeria's wealthiest and most influential politicians, was arrested in 2007. He was governor of Delta state from 1999 to 2007.

He was then freed, before being re-arrested in Dubai on a British warrant in 2010 and then extradited.

In 2007, a UK court froze assets allegedly belonging to him worth $35m.

He is due to be sentenced on 16 April.

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Ibori and the law: A timeline  [tr] [td]August 2007[/td] [td]A court in the UK freezes Ibori's assets in the UK, valued at about $35 million

following allegations of corruption.

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]December 2007[/td] [td]Ibori is arrested by the EFCC (under Nuhu Ribadu) at Kwara state Lodge in

Asokoro, Abuja for theft of public funds, abuse of office and money laundering.

Ribadu alleged that Ibori tried to bribe him with a cash gift of about $15million

which he lodged in the Central Bank of Nigeria. The cash has remained lodged

in the CBN as exhibit.

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]December 2009[/td] [td]A Federal High Court in Asaba discharges and acquits Ibori of all 170 charges

leveled against him.

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]April 2010[/td] [td]Fresh charges of N40bn leveled against Ibori by the EFCC.

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]April 25, 2010[/td] [td]The media reports that Ibori had fled Nigeria to evade arrest by the EFCC on the

new charges.

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]May 12, 2010[/td] [td]Ibori is arrested by INTERPOL in Dubai, United Arab Emirates based on an

international warrant issued against him by the United Kingdom government

in respect of money laundering charges.

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]June 1 & 2, 2010[/td] [td]UK juries find Ibori's sister, Christine Ibie-Ibori and his associate,

Udoamaka Okoronkwo guilty on counts of money laundering. They were sentenced

to 5 years in prison each on June 7, 2010.

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]June 10, 2010[/td] [td]EFCC confirms that the UAE had revoked an earlier bail granted to Ibori and that he

was now in custody of UAE authorities.

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]April 15, 2011[/td] [td]Ibori is extradited to the United Kingdom.

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]February 2012[/td] [td]Ibori pleads guilty to 10 counts of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud and

is to be sentenced on April 16, 2012.[/td] [/tr]  [/table]

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