Earlier on, his lawyers had tried to make a case for a lenient sentencing. His lawyer, Nicholas Pernell blamed Badrash Gohil and former Akwa Ibom state governor, Victor Attah, for the V-Mobile scam saying they were the architects of the fraud. He further credited his client with every development in Nigeria, and especially in Delta state, from the banking reforms, to peace in the Niger Delta, education, and building of low-cost housing. Also in his defence, he stated that his client, James Ibori, played a part in supporting British industry even before he became governor. As evidence, he cited a letter from British Airways, thanking Ibori for restoring direct flights between Nigeria and Britain.
Do you think that if he had not pleaded guilty the years would have been more than 13years?
Mr. Pernell, in his conclusion, asked the Judge to consider the pressure that his client has been under since investigatons began in 2005, and also the accused’s children who now have both their parents in custody before passing his sentence.
Also in his defence, veteran sportsman, John Fashanu, made an appearance in the court today. He testified saying the former governor achieved a lot in sports, and was instrumental to the end of militancy in the state. He told the court that Ibori built nine mini-sports stadia and three Olympic-sized stadia in Delta state and also built the first shooting range in Nigeria.
The court went for a recess at about 12.30pm and reconvened at 2.25pm after which his sentence was read. James Ibori had earlier pleaded guilty to a number of corruption and money laundering charges against him put at about $250million before Judge Pitts. This includes the V-Mobile and Bombardaire scams which amounted to $50million. Ibori and Victor Attah, former Akwa Ibom state governor also formed a phantom company called ADF to siphon US$37.5million from Delta and Akwa Ibom states’ shares in V-Mobile.
He was accused of embezzling these funds during his tenure as governor and using most of them to live a lavish lifestyle and acquire property and assets around the world. Judge Pitts said that the sentencing will not be the end of the matter as his property will also be confiscated.
News Source: Daily Times
17 comments:
He obviously had smart lawyers who gave the idea to plead guilty,if not he would have rotten in jail.
He only stole money, he didnt kill anybody or manslaughter so it fair enough
Gd for him,PDP shld go and bail him out naw, thank it was in UK, if it was in naija he would have gone scot free
He is very lucky to be serving in Uk,they shld let him serve in kirikiri prison in Lagos then he would know d difference, maybe he would have been poisoned
13yrs is small,it shld serve 31yrs
Ole! gd 4 him, let all the criminals in Nigeria govt learn from this, repent b4 u end up like him, God has a way of making wicked people pay for their crime,he never believed this would happen abei?
Mtschewwwwwwwwww! 13yrs is small
Its too much,4yrs would have done it, haba! is an ex governor
Thia man Fashanu...any which way to be in public will surface, ur time has past,stop blabbing
UK is just the right people we need for them to make sure justice prevail
let them show Nigeria that following principles are the successful way to make a nation grow
John Fashanu has taken hugh amt of money from ds guy for him to be opening his mouth and miss yaning
Ha ha ha! ds man nawo!
XP give us report on the wife and mistress, did they get at least 7yrs
Corruption,419,and you were once a governor, what a disgrace
Hopefully,after serving there will have a good preseident and good law then,that will make him serve 15yrs when he returns for d crime he committed in naija
Choi! Ibori is now more handsome than when he was a governor in Nigeria. U see how yanky fit turn monkey to fine man. Das good for him. Ole Hm own beta say na abroad. Dem 4 carriam come kirikiri.
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