26th July, 2010
All is now set for the extradition of former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, wanted by the UK on charges of money laundering.
Ibori was arrested in May by Interpol, in Dubai. He will soon be extradited to London, confirmed a Dubai Police source.
According to huhuonline, which also quoted Gulf News Ibori, who is believed to have entered the UAE a couple of times on visit visas, was planning to start a business there.
Acting on an arrest warrant issued through Interpol, Dubai Police investigators arrested Ibori at a five star hotel in Palm Jumeirah.
He was initially bailed and later he was detained.
Following a media report, Nigeriaâ€
However, hundreds of Iboriâ€
Farida Waziri, chairman of EFCC, was quoted by the media as saying that Ibori was detained after an arrest warrant was issued by Interpol.
“The EFCC charged Ibori in 2007 with looting more than $85 million during his eight-year tenure as governor of Delta, one of the three main oil-producing states in the southern Niger Delta region, but a court dismissed the charges,†Waziri said.
Ibori is accused of using state funds to purchase several companies under his name.
Investigators said Ibori later laundered that money in the UK, in bank accounts he controlled — a matter which he continuously denied even while arrested in Dubai.
Two of Iboriâ€
The money-laundering trial in London began in 2007.
The former governorâ€
Ibori was detained by Dubai Police on the sole request by the Metropolitan Police Service, the police source said.
When extradited Ibori would become the second person to be sent to Britain for trial under a 2008 treaty.
Anti-corruption officials in Nigeria said they are working with the Metropolitan Police in London to ensure Ibori is extradited there.