Ibori To Return To Nigeria As FG Signs Prisoners’ Transfer Deal With UK

James Ibori

The Federal Government and Britain, yesterday, signed a Prisoners’ Transfer Agreement.

The agreement will see Nigerian prisoners in Britain, which may include former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, return to Nigeria to complete their jail terms.

Ibori, accused of stealing N39,737,500,000 from the Nigerian public purse, had on February 27, pleaded guilty to ten counts of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud at Southwark Crown Court, London. He was sentenced to 13 years by Southwark Crown Court for his crimes on Tuesday, April 17, 2012.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammad Adoke, SAN and the United Kingdom, Minister of Justice, Mr. Jeremy Wright sealed the deal at a ceremony, in Abuja.

“This is a good agreement for both Nigeria and UK. It gives us an opportunity to strengthen our partnership and friendship. It is also an opportunity to ensure that the prisoners which come from either country will serve their sentences in their own countries, that is better for their rehabilitation,” Wright said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Viola Onwuliri, who earlier received Wright in her office, said “experts from both countries will now sit down to bring the modalities for implementation. After which the two countries will go back to ratify and then it will come into force.

“We have two arrangements with UK on prisoner transfer. Already we have an existing agreement under the commonwealth scheme which provides transfer with consent and we have been implementing that. [Vanguard]

9 COMMENTS

  1. Hahahahahaha James Ibori is a free man as long as Nigeria is concern. wait oh is it in only U.K dis agreement is been signed? someone answer dis question. How about other countries? I beleive this agreement is just to set Ibori free.

  2. This man may be free despite the embezzlement of the Nigerian money.
    Nigeria, where politicians play their games, anyway u can skip world’s punishment but u can never runaway from God’s own.
    Time is coming!!