POLL: Out of UK prison, Nigerians want Ibori probed for alleged looting of Delta

Although he was only recently released from a London prison, Nigerians want former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori investigated for allegedly looting the treasury of state.

Nigerians from every facet of endeavor who took part in an online survey by Ripples Nigeria called on anti-graft bodies in the country to probe into allegations against the former governor that he looted the oil rich state while he was governor between 199 and 2017.

Ibori breathe the air of freedom late December 2016, after spending close to four years behind bars. He was convicted by a Southwark Crown Court, London and was sentenced on April 17, 2012, to 13 years in prison.

Accused of stealing US$250 million from the purse of his home state, Delta, while he was governor, Ibori pleaded guilty to ten counts of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud.

Ibori few weeks after his release landed in Nigeria to what was regarded as a hero’s welcome by some, but which was also described as a morally bankrupt gathering of a rented crowd by many Nigerians.

Ibori himself has declared that he is not a thief, despite having been jailed for the offence, but in the online survey conducted by Ripples Nigeria, which was widely spread on social media to attract varying opinions, Nigerians say Ibori still has a case to answer.

Read also:  Nigerian economy in compression, not recession– Soludo

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in reaction to Ibori’s release from the UK prison, and return to Nigeria, had stated that Ibori still has some 170 charges pending against him at the Appeal Court in Abuja.

The anti-crime agency accused him of embezzling about N40bn belonging to Delta State. Even a former Chairman of the commission, Nuhu Ribadu, alleged that the former governor attempted to bribe him with $15million cash.

The online survey which reached 766, 491 on facebook alone had as question: Out of UK prison, should Ibori face another trial for alleged looting of Delta State?

In the survey, 56.9 per cent of respondents, representing 493 votes, ticked ‘Yes’, 39.1 per cent, representing 339 votes ticked ‘No’, while 3.9 per cent of the respondents were undecided.

The poll also attracted about 17, 000 likes on facebook, was shared 938 times on the social media platform, and had over 3, 900 comments, with many of them declaring that Ibori has to be probed in Nigeria, even as they condemned the anti-graft bodies for seemingly letting the UK authorities do their job for them.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Click here to download the Ripples Nigeria App for latest updates

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now