Former Governor of Delta State James Ibori, who has since
started his jail term in the UK after he was convicted of stealing $80m, is
still making money through his companies. Weekly Trust reports.
The story of former Delta State governor James Ibori is not
unlike that of the late Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, even though they
differ. Escobar was rich even though a criminal. At his peak, he owned numerous
luxury residences, automobiles, and airplanes. Indeed, he even had a
short-lived career in politics.
For James Ibori, the story sounds pretty imitating. During
his trial in London, United Kingdom, the court heard that Ibori was able to
afford luxury properties, fleets of Rolls Royces, a Bentley and a Maybach,
first class travel, private boarding school fees and a private jet worth $20
million, far above what his salary as governor could give him.
And like Escobar, who continued to make money through his
numerous ‘illegal’ businesses, even after he was jailed, Ibori is also believed
to be making millions even as he commenced his prison term in the United
Kingdom. In Delta State, for instance, the former governor is believed to be
either the owner or one of the owners of ULO Consultants Limited, a
construction and consulting firm handling several lucrative government projects
in the state.
If this is so, as many of our sourced said it is, then Ibori
is reaping billions of naira even as he is serving a jail term in London.
ULO is currently handling the construction of a gigantic
building that is to be the new Government House, in Asaba. The company
constructed Maryam Babangida Way, Asaba that links the Benin/Asaba expressway
with Asaba town. It is also handling the construction of the state’s
Commissioner’s quarters’ road and its drainage work covering the old to the new
Government House as well as the dualization of section “C” of the Asaba/Ughelli
road.
Indeed, the company is one of the three companies handling
the contract for the demolition of the hill at the Asaba international Airport
which was awarded at N7.4 billion.
When contacted for comments over Ibori’s ownership of the
company and other matters related to its operation, ULO Chief executive
officer, Uche Okpuno said he does not speak to the press and cannot therefore
answer any question from the reporter.
However, a source at the company’s office in Asaba told this
reporter on condition of anonymity that Ibori has investment and financial
interest in the company, adding that, “There is no record in this company to
show that Ibori is either a shareholder or a director. But some of us who have
been in the company when he was the governor of the state know he own it.”
“When you visit our office at Wuse Zone 5 in Abuja you will
realize that we share the same office with Daily Independent Newspapers.
Everybody knows he (Ibori) owns that newspaper company. We got the highest
number of construction work from his administration. We are still enjoying the
same patronage under the present administration in the state.
“But when you look at the list of our executive management
and administration officers, you will not see his name there. We have Chief
Uche Okpuno as the Group Chairman and chief executive officer, Barrister Sam
Nwosu is the Company Secretary, Brian George Hartzenberg is the General
Manager, Toyo Osai is Assistant General Manager, Timothy Oladosu, Operations
Manager and Christine Plaatjies, Human Resource Manager,” the source said.
Another source at the company that also pleaded anonymity
argued that Ibori has assisted the company so much with contracts when he was
the governor of the state and it was the same Ibori that linked the company
with the current Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration that is also
patronizing the company. Don’t forget that Uduaghan is a cousin to Ibori.
Her Majesty’s Wandsworth Prison
Ibori is currently being held at Wandsworth Prison in South
West London. He has been in detention at the prison since his extradition from
Dubai, United Arab Emirate in April 2011. Built in 1851, Wandsworth is one of
the largest prisons in the UK and Europe. It is a male prison and holds more
than 1,660 prisoners at a time. It has sports and health facilities, including
specialist clinics for asthma, diabetes and mental health. It also has
facilities for education and vocational training, as well as a library and a
chaplaincy team that caters for various faiths of its inmates.
However, at Ibori’s assets confiscation hearing on
Wednesday, May 9, his defence team hinted that the former governor may be moved
to a prison outside London. A staff at Wandsworth who declined to give their
name said it was normal to move prisoners to other prisons after trial to make
room for other prisoners or to ensure convicts are held at appropriate prisons.
Weekly Trust recalls that shortly after Ibori was sentenced to 13 years in jail
on April 17, a London Metropolitan police detective said Ibori may be allowed
by the Home Office to be sent to Nigeria to complete his prison term. He
however emphasized that would happen only after all pending issues, including
the confiscation of Ibori’s assets were completed.
‘Down but not out’
However, Prince Charles Abutoh, a computer hardware engineer
is the Secretary-General of Oghara Clan Union, UK, which stood by former Delta
state Governor James Ibori throughout his trial in London, said the former
governor who is an Oghara himself, is facing his prison sentence like a man. He
is psychologically prepared for it. His mind is made up. He regards his
travails as one of those things of life. He is not bitter and he is looking
forward to a good future. He is not down and he is not out. He is comfortable
with the food in prison. He is not been fed from outside. You can’t take food
into prison here. He is not missing anything – he exercises and mixes well with
other inmates.”
‘Corrupt firms must be sanctioned’
Meanwhile, chairman of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders
(CACOL), Debo Adeniran said in an interview that the group would send petition
to the Federal Government to stop patronizing any company with corruption cases
pending against them. “We have informed the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP)
to ensure compliance and we are going to impress it on BPP to ensure that
Ibori’s companies are stopped from participating in government contracts
pending the time they would be taken over as state property because they are
set up from proceeds of crime. That is the way to stop him further looting in
Delta State,” Adeniran said.
Also, he said, “Already we have advised the UK authority to
put the loot in escrow account till the expiration of the present regime in
Delta State.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which
also has a case against Ibori, did not respond to Weekly Trust inquiries.
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