According to Nuhu Ribadu, the head of the anti-corruption agency, Mr. James Ibori would be charged on Thursday in the federal high court. At the same time, the Britain’s Metropolitan police are also investigating Mr. James Ibori.
Doubts have been raised over the government’s commitment to fight corruption with its anti-corruption campaign. This is attributed to the failure of prosecuting Mr. Ibori in the country of Nigeria. Under the country’s new administration, this is the most high-profile governor to be arrested.
James Ibori was arrested at a private residence in Abuja. Agents from Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) oversaw Mr. Ibori’s arrest.
The Delta State is one of the largest and richest oil-producing states in Nigeria. As a result, Mr. Ibori is dubbed the “oil-governor.”
The British government is investigating Mr. Ibori on allegations of the laundering of millions of dollars of looted state funds. But, Mr. Ibori denies the charges of laundering against him.
Mr. Ibori’s assets in the UK have been frozen by a UK court. His assets are worth about thirty-five million dollars. In office, Mr. Ibori made less than twenty-five grand a year. Like other state governors, Mr. Ibori no longer has immunity from prosecution when he had left office earlier in the year.
The main political issue in Nigeria as a result is whether agencies with the task of anti-corruption are able to go after Ibori the same way they have gone after other former governors. In this case, most of the scrutiny has been focused on Nigeria’s new attorney general.
There have been complaints from both Britain and Nigeria that the new attorney general used his position to stall prosecution of Mr. Ibori. He denies the charge.
This arrest gives a message that nobody is safe from prosecution from the anti-corruption agency.