Politics

10 years after, British court seeks confiscation of $130m from convicted ex-Nigerian governor

Published

1 year ago

July 21, 2023

Over a decade after his conviction, the travails of a former Nigerian governor, James Ibori appear to have resurfaced as Britain seeks a further confiscation of 101.5 million pounds ($130 million) from the disgraced politician.

Judge David Tomlinson of Southwark Crown Court formally declared that Ibori had benefited from criminal conduct in the sum of 101.5 million pounds and asked him to pay the sum immediately or face an eight-year jail sentence.

“I make a confiscation order in that sum because Mr. Ibori has not satisfied me, nor has he really tried to satisfy me that he is incapable of paying the full amount,” the judge said.

“There is no reason to allow time for the sum to be paid. I set a term of eight years imprisonment in default of payment.”

Ibori was sentenced to 13 years in prison, of which he served half after entering a guilty plea to 10 counts of fraud and money laundering in 2012.

Prosecutors in a UK court requested a confiscation order against Ibori for £117.7 million in 2020. Ibori is listed as having many bank accounts and more than 10 properties worldwide, including flats on London’s famed Abbey Road and a £5 million home in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, according to court documents.

In 2021, some $5.8 million (£4.2 million) recovered by UK agencies that were stolen by the Nigerian former governor was returned to Nigeria.

Authorities claim he stole an estimated $165 million (£117 million) from the oil-rich state. Among the things cited in court paperwork for a confiscation order against Ibori is a Bombardier Challenger plane.

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

3 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

4 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.