Former Governor James Onanefe Ibori of Delta State today entered a
guilty plea at his money laundering trial at a Southwark Crown Court in
London, the UK.
Mr. Ibori’s admission of guilt closed the chapter on arguably the
most dramatic judicial and political saga involving a Nigerian public
official in recent years.
Today’s development came as a stunning finale
to one of the most phenomenal money laundering and fraud cases spanning
seven years of an intensive manhunt. That drama ended as the once
powerful former governor, who loved to be flattered with his flamboyant
nickname of Odidigborigbo of Africa, avoided an exhaustive and revealing
trial by deciding to admit to his massive money laundering activities
during his two-term run as governor.
A source with the Crown Prosecution Services in the UK told
SaharaReporters that, with today’s plea, Mr. Ibori faces up to 10 years
in a UK prison at his sentencing. The former governor will be sentenced
after the completion of the trial of his accomplice and financial
advisor, Elias Preko, a Ghanaian national. Mr. Ibori, a graduate of the
University of Benin, today’s admission of guilt ends a
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