by Chukwu Obi
A group in Delta state has implored President Goodluck Jonathan to grant presidential pardon to the former governor of the state, James Ibori, before leaving office on May 29.
On Sunday, the Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, insisted that Ibori should be freed as he had suffered enough.
The group stated that several of his colleagues who also pilfered government money still have their freedom, while Ibori is behind
In an interactive session with newsmen, National President the group, Austin Ozobo, said: “Chief Ibori has suffered enough and there is no justification for not granting him clemency, as had been done to others.”
“Ibori should be freed. Hundreds of persons who looted heavily from government coffers are walking freely in the streets. The continuous incarceration of one corrupt man among a million other corrupt citizens cannot change the menace of high level corruption in the country.”
“Ibori’s imprisonment could be seen as a witch-hunt and such is highly barbaric and provocative and the Nigerian government must quickly do something about his matter. Despite the ordeals Ibori is passing through, Deltans hold him in high esteem and his great achievements while in office cannot be discountenanced.”
“There should be no sacred cow among political office holders. Ibori’s case is not different, he is a victim of circumstances. Release him and let him breathe fresh air and let other corrupt public office holders be tried as well.”
In 2007, the Metropolitan Police raided the London offices of lawyer Bhadresh Gohil. Hidden in a wall behind a fireplace, they found computer hard drives containing details of a myriad of off-shore companies, run for Ibori by Gohil, fiduciary agent Daniel Benedict McCann, and corporate financier Lambertus De Boer. All of these men were later jailed for a total of 30 years.
As a result of these corruption allegations, the United Kingdom courts froze Ibori’s assets there, valued at about £17 million ($35 million), in early August 2007.
His wife, Nkoyo, was arrested at Heathrow Airport in London on 1 November 2007, in connection with the probe of the assets of her husband, particularly in the United Kingdom.
She was released after being questioned. In an exclusive interview with CNN, Ibori denied allegations against him claiming they were politically motivated. He accused Nuhu Ribadu and the UK Courts of playing politics.
