AND THEN THERE WAS JAMES IBORI
By Michael Egbejumi-David

Some years ago, a friend and colleague of mine was being recruited to set up the medical/surgical faculty of the Delta State University.  I think he was going to be offered the post of Provost of the Medical School.  Naturally, my friend was very excited and quickly left for Nigeria.  After detailed discussions and when he saw the facilities that he was told had cost millions of Dollars, my friend broke down and cried.  A decent human being and seasoned professional, he did not want any association with these people and returned to the UK.  These people were James Ibori and his government officials.

At the conclusion of Ibori’s ignoble and unhappy regime in Delta State, he is being reported to have looted the State’s treasury to the tune of N100 billion, conservatively.  In the UK alone, his assets are worth some £20 million.  I know for a fact that he owns a huge mansion in St John’s Wood in London.  Now, if you are shopping for a house in St John’s Wood, you’d better have at least a couple of million Pounds in your pocket.  For good measure, he also bought his girlfriend who bore him a son another house in England for a cool £1 million.  To wrap it up nicely, he is said to have on order from North America, a customised aircraft that cost him about $10 million.

In the last few years of his administration, this chap was so loathed by all that he became a virtual recluse in Delta State.  Even when he visits London, he does it under wraps because fellow Deltans and other Nigerians gave him some grief on a couple of occasions on account of his corrupt dealings.  Ibori stole and stole and then stole some more!  And we are not talking about some corrugated roofing materials here either.  What manner of human being is this?  How can someone be this damning and cruel to steal his State into inertia?

What is now known is that Delta State was left with a substantial amount of debt running into billions of Naira mostly owed to Oceanic Bank.  The current pretender governor, Ibori’s own cousin, has not officially denied this.  A visit to Delta State is a sad event.  You are left scratching your head and wondering what the fuss was all about.  Just like those Northern governors rightly did a while ago, you immediately wonder where all the money went.  There is absolutely nothing at all to show for eight years of Ibori’s stewardship.  You’ll only find swanky privately owned edifices indifferently dotting the landscape.  Delta State received the highest federally allocated monies.  There is a further 13% derivation subvention and significant internally generated income; yet in real terms, Delta State is physically and socially stuck in a rut and the backwaters.

There is no running away from the fact that in our country, Southern governors and leaders have always tried to outdo each other when it comes to stealing.   They certainly out perform their Northern counterparts when it comes to corruption.  It could even be reasonably argued that the brazen and large scale theft that took place under Babangida and Abacha were intellectually aided by Southern collaborators.  What we seem to possess in the South is a pile of University degrees that does nothing to improve our humanity and a completely warped sense of duty.  Our people (the big men and the not so big) steal without a care in the world.  Look at Nnamani of Enugu State for instance; the fellow was a Paediatrician in the USA for goodness sake!

I was one of the people who sent in a memorandum to the South-South delegates during what turned out to be Obasanjo’s deceptive National Reform Conference.  Then, I had advocated that the Zone not accept anything less than a 50% derivation arrangement and gave detailed reasons for this.  Regrettably, I am no longer certain that I can maintain the same stance today.  It would seem to me now that true federalism might be too early a practice for the country – especially in Southern Nigeria.  Can you imagine what Ibori, Kalu, Oyinlola in Oshun State and Alao-Akala would do if they have complete control of their States’ Police, Judiciary and Central Bank?

In eight years of Nigeria’s democratic and social discourse, Ibori and Delta State was never once mentioned in any positive light.  There was no news of innovative governance initiatives or breakthroughs.  There was no news of social or infrastructural developments a la Cross River or Ogun States.  Our only contribution was around the areas of looting and corruption.  This is Delta State we are talking about don’t forget.  A place with no shortage of talents and resources.  A home of a brilliant and sophisticated people.  But for eight years, the State was forced to take-on the character and colour of this dour kleptomaniac.  While Duke was excelling and doing his people and Nigerians proud in Cross River with less resources, Ibori was wasting everyone’s time and simply and mirthlessly went about looting everything in sight in Delta.

If the Economic & Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) does not pick up this chap and prosecute him, we should all just throw our hands up and head on home.  In a typical rouge fashion and to save his neck, he again raided Delta State’s treasury to become one of the major financiers of the Yar’Adua’s emergence project.  My suspicion is that perhaps that singular act is what has bought him some reprieve thus far.  However, if this man (and Odili of River State) is not dragged to court by the EFCC and all his ill acquired wealth stripped off him, then the EFCC – and by extension, the current Federal Government – would have no moral justification to try ANYONE else in the country for stealing even a N100 loaf of bread.  As was the case with Alamieyeseigha, the British government is getting ready to take over the UK assets of Ibori.  Foolishly, we continue to loose our meagre wealth to our erstwhile colonial master and other wealthy nations.  What an irony!  Our wealth still continues to flow outwards with mostly Southern “educated” leaders piloting the out-sailing ships.  It would be interesting to know how many private homes and businesses Gordon Brown and members of his cabinet or US States’ governors have in Nigeria and Africa.  Again, education without humaneness; without sense.

For James Ibori who managed to scrape through UniBen with a 3rd Class degree in Economics and Statistics, his sole understanding of economics would appear to be the supply side of things.  Personal supply.  He has since certainly earned for himself an indisputable 1st Class (Hons) in looting.  During his unapologetically corrupt regime, the Delta State government, without any qualms, once recorded that it purchased a television set for a whopping N1 million.  When a few years ago Alamieyeseigha was celebrating the completion of a two year diploma course by his daughter in the US with an unbelievable price tag of $400,000 (US Dollars), Ibori was the only other governor that attended the spectacle.   You know what they say about birds of the same feather .…  Now, he’s gone and bought himself an aeroplane for $10 million!  For what??  To ferry him from Warri to Oghara?   For the eight years he steered the ship of State into shallow waters, the only things that sustained us in Delta was our humour and a common hatred for his person.

For people like him, unfortunately it doesn’t really matter how much they manoeuvre and splash money around to win influence.  The truth remains that he is covered in stolen garments; and that must feel as uncomfortable as it looks on him.



Michael Egbejumi-David
London, UK
 

Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 07.08.2007 03:02

Sincere Brillow  Villager

# 2 Thanks for the wonder piece.I thought i was the only one thinking that IBORI & his cohorts like Lucky wont have the searchlight beamed on them.It is on this premise that one can boldly and confidently posit that the Anti Graft Body-EFCC is selective & Partial,If not then it is not living up to its scope of work.Let us disregard the issue of picking them one after the other.If 20 thieves are disturbing a communit,that we have picked up 8 of them will not stop the menace.Rather it will make matters worse.The 20 thieves need to be arrested,prosecuted and jailed if found guilty.No Plea bargaing.Afterall no plea bargaining for those petty theives. I hope someone is thinking along this line. Yours Sincerely Ilesanmi Brillow. Posted by Sincere Brillow| 07.08.2007 04:24

Fine Naija Bobo  Villager

# 3 ...Ibori’s Case May Run Int... By Paul Ohia, ThisDay Tuesday, August 7, 2007 London Metropolitan Police may run into a dead end in its investigation of former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, THISDAY learnt last night. The Southwark Crown Court in London, England, had granted the Met Police an order freezing the assets believed to be owned by Ibori. The assets were estimated to be between £20 million and £25 million. The purchase of a new aircraft estimated at $20 million was also said to have been frozen by the court order. However, information made available to THISDAY yesterday indicates that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Andoaaka, is investigating how the Met Police got the powers to freeze Ibori’s suspected assets in the first instance. “The Met Police are supposed to act on advice on request from the Attorney General, a source told THISDAY. “Who gave the advice with which they sought to freeze the assests? In the case of Chiefs Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and Joshua Dariye (former governors of Bayelsa and Plateau States respectively), the then Attorney-General, Chief Bayo Ojo, personally went to London to request the police to freeze the assets. Who gave the advice this time around?” The procedural question was raised, according to our source, because the new AG denied writing the Met Police to make any request or share any advice on the said assets because he did not have the facts to make the request. THISDAY was also informed last night that even though some of the frozen assets may have been owned by Ibori, there is “no evidence to suggest that he acquired those assets through corrupt activities. This is what EFCC has been investigating for the past two years without a major breakthrough”. An official source who spoke with THISDAY said that no direct link has been established between the acquisition of the property and his tenure in Delta State as governor. “All the assets in question were acquired through private business,” an Ibori aide said. “Ibori was a businessman before he went into politics and his businesses did not stop running while he was in government.” According to him, Ibori set up MER Engineering over ten years ago and the company does business with major oil companies in Nigeria. “These facts can be verified. He registered the company many years ago and it had been doing big business before Ibori became a governor. MER Engineering grew to become a major player in the local content vehicle (LCV) initiative of the former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.” The company, he said, does business with oil majors like Shell and Chevron. “You may even accuse Ibori of doing business while been a governor but you cannot accuse him of obtaining assests through corrupt practices. That is absolutely false.” The aircraft, one of the assets frozen, is said to have been purchased by Wings Aviation, a well-known private charter company in Nigeria. “The aircraft does not belong to Ibori. The particulars are there to be vetted,” he said. Diplomatic sources confirmed yesterday that Britain has frozen assets belonging to Ibori and that Southwark Crown Court in London will review the assets forfeiture case on October 1, 2007. Last Thursday, the court granted an Application of Restraint in relation to worldwide assets of Ibori. The application was made by the London Metropolitan police under the "Proceeds of Crime Act" and these extensive applications relate to business and private finances of the former Delta State governor. "Ibori's properties and some of his assets have been restrained," unnamed diplomatic source was quoted as saying yesterday. British authorities have cracked down on Nigerian governors who fell foul of British law since a new Proceeds of Crime Act was introduced in 2002. Alamieyeseigha and Dariye were charged with money laundering in London but both jumped bail. Alamieyeseigha has since been convicted of corruption by a Nigerian court, while Dariye is on trial and has had some of his assets returned to Nigeria by British authorities. Met Police have worked closely with Nigeria's anti-corruption Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), created in 2003. However, without concrete evidence that the assets came through corrupt practices, which can only be provided by Nigrian authorities, the assests may be returned to Ibori. Posted by Fine Naija Bobo| 07.08.2007 04:42

el_pharoah  Villager

# 4 =Robot;197903> Can you imagine what Ibori, Kalu, Oyinlola in Oshun State and Alao-Akala would do if they have complete control of their States’ Police, Judiciary and Central Bank? Tufiakwa!!! I shudder at the thought of it, far, far too scary to contemplate. Posted by el_pharoah| 07.08.2007 04:47

calist  Villager

# 5 Thanks Michael Egbejumi-David, for this article, To characterise the face of delta state under the stewardship of James Ibori as a disappointment is an understatement and making mild of a terrible situation. Although I’m very confident that the long arm of the law will catch up with him not minding how long it takes, hope he get a deserved judgment. Posted by calist| 07.08.2007 05:56

Mikky jaga  Villager

# 6 There is no alternative to fiscal federalism, but it must go hand in hand with political (true)federalism. Any people who, like the Son of the Delta, decide to glorify thieves on the altar of son of the soil will then have no one to blame if his region is milked dry by thieving Govt. officials. In a truly Federal structure, I believe Akala and Oyinlola would not even smell the corridors of power not to talk of stealing anything. Nigeria we hail thee!! Posted by Mikky jaga| 07.08.2007 06:24

RAYNOSA  Villager

# 7 Delta state is Lucky to have a governor who had a 3rd class in UNIBEN.We in Edo state are so Unlucky to have an Unlucky governor whose academic achivement is primary school certificate and being a first son to a wealthy father. To me i think it is high time the United Nation set up a world Court were these theifing politician would be tried for economic genocide or the does not realize the are economic terrorist.With out global attention to the effect of corruption,i dont think the world would take us serious,also our jounalist should do more of investigative journalism at least get photograph of there properties and list of investments. Ibori,Odili and Lucky should be tried for genocide for fueling and finacing the crisis in the Niger Delta region instead of enriching the people with state fund they are busy funding private projects. As an Economic graduate Ibori is so DAFT that it would have been much more profotable for him if he had invested this money in Nigeria like putting up a factory in his state.An Excellency in looting. Posted by RAYNOSA| 07.08.2007 06:39

blondie  Villager

# 8 Too late brother! EFCC can no longer prosecute Ibori or any other thieving ex-governor. Yar' Adua ensured that. I think South Eastern states got lucky this time. At least Kalu and Nnamani's prosecution will ensure that we at least get part of our stolen wealth. Too bad folks . UMYA is the man in the saddle and his friends happen to be Ibori and Odili and Igbinedion. If you want to avoid going into a black depression, do not read news about Nigeria. If only I could heed my own advice! Posted by blondie| 07.08.2007 07:03

Son of the Delta  Villager

# 9 Umaru Yar'Adua was hand-picked by Olusegun Obasanjo Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua has ordered the suspension of a multi-million dollar contract awarded by his predecessor Olusegun Obasanjo. The 18bn naira ($145m) contract to build health clinics across the country was awarded to a company believed to be owned by a former aide to Mr Obasanjo. "It was an illegal contract," Mr Yar'Adua's spokesman told the BBC. Last month, Mr Yar'Adua reversed the controversial sale of two refineries to a business group linked to Mr Obasanjo. Nigeria is seen as one of the world's most corrupt countries - an image both Mr Obasanjo and Mr Yar'Adua have pledged to end. Rule of law The contract, awarded last year, was to build a primary healthcare centre in each of Nigeria's 774 local council areas. Olusegun Obasanjo still runs the ruling party The contract was funded by compulsory deductions from each of the local councils' share of monthly oil revenue. "There's no law backing it. It was being funded with illegal local government funds," President Yar'Adua's spokesman Olusegun Adeniyi told the BBC News website This is the second time in less than three weeks that President Yar'Adua would be reversing a major decision taken by his predecessor and political benefactor. Mr Adeniyi denied that President Yar'Adua was trying to prove his independence from his predecessor, who had been instrumental in his landslide win in last April's presidential polls. "For President Yar'Adua, everything is about the rule of law and this contract was found to be illegal," Mr Adeniyi said. For the past 8 years Obasanjo has been deducting money from L.G.s for hospital projects no one has seen the hospitals.He has withdrawn money from the excess crude account,from the federation account,from the revenue account and all what not.He also pegged the oil revenue benchmark at a price below the international benchmark.Obasanjo is also deducting ecological funds from the state allocations.Asking governors asking governors to deep their hand into their state treasuries to fund P.D.P. and to buy military hardwares so that he can carry out his politically motivated genocides.It is unfortunate that Africa is not recognizing his evil achievement as the biggest and longest serving thief that Africa has ever produced. Posted by Son of the Delta| 07.08.2007 08:02

tengallons  Villager

# 10 I am from Delta State. I am part owner of that state's resources and I make no excuses for my thieving bretheren. I've said it before, we need to stiffen our penalties for economic and financial crimes. If allegations such as these are proven true, these robbers should be locked up for eternity. In fact, they should be executed. That way, there won't be a question of pardon later on. Every guilty person needs to go down -- from President and VP to Local Govt. officials. Until I see REAL punishment, all this talk of sanitizing the public space is moonshine. Posted by tengallons| 07.08.2007 09:30

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