Former Delta govnor Ibori chop order to pay $130million or ready to go back jail

One judge for London on Friday order di confiscation of $130 million from Nigerian ex-governor James Ibori.

Dis na money wey dem accuse am say e tiff wey make dem bin jail am. Di order na one of di largest confiscation dem impose on one pesin in recent British legal history.

Oga Ibori na former governor of di oil rich Delta state for eight years (1999 to 2007) wia tori say e tiff di money wey e suppose use develop di state.

Dem move am from Dubai to Britain in 2011 and charge am for laundering millions of dollars for one UK court.

Di ex-governor plead guilty in 2012 to 10 counts of fraud and money-laundering and chop a 13-year jail sentence.

Oga Ibori don get order now to forfeit di money immediately or face anoda jail term of eight years.

Di former govnor currently dey Nigeria and pipo sabi say e get connection. Tori be say im vow to appeal against di confiscation order.

E no clear if di Nigerian goment go cooperate in enforcing order. Di ex-governor dey close to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, di current president of Nigeria.

Since taking office in May, Tinubu don host Ibori two times for di presidential villa, along wit other former govnors.

Pipo hail di conviction of James Ibori for 2012 say na landmark in di fight against corruption both for Britain and Nigeria.

Believe dey say di money wey dem confiscate go return to Nigeria if di legal process succeed.

'Enough fact dey to seize Ibori funds'

Judge David Tomlinson of Southwark Crown Court don made factual findings about di funds.

For one hearing on Thursday, both sides bin argue about how di confiscation figure suppose dey calculated - dem dey consider di judge findings.

Di Judge dey expected to finalise and formally issue im order on Friday 21 July or shortly afta.

Lead prosecution counsel Jonathan Kinnear bin tell di court say di total amount wey dem suppose seize from Ibori na 101.5 million pounds - over 100 billion naira - and say if e no pay up e fit dey sentenced to between five and 10 years for prison.

As e don serve half of im prison sentence for pre- and post-trial detention, as e dey common, Ibori bin return to Nigeria for 2017 and no attend Thursday hearing.

E tell Reuters for text message say e get plan to appeal against di confiscation order.

Ibori still dey influential and connected wella for Nigeria politics.

President Bola Tinubu wey enta office for May don host Ibori twice for di presidential villa, along wit oda former govnors.

Britain don pledge to return any moni wey dem recover from Ibori to Nigeria.

For 2021, dem return 4.2 million pounds wey don dey confiscated from Ibori ex-wife and im sister, wey also serve jail time sake of say she help am hide money.

Who be James Ibori?

James Ibori go from petty thief to Nigerian state governor to convicted money launderer.

Im go UK for 1980s and work as cashier for DIY store for London.

Im chop conviction for 1991 for stealing from di store but den return to Nigeria and come involve for politics.

Wen e run for Delta State governor, im lie about im date of birth to hide im UK conviction - wey for prevent am from contesting for office.

Im become governor for 1999 and soon begin take money from state coffers. Delta State na di source of much of Nigeria oil.

Since im return to Nigeria, Ibori to join politics again. For di 2023 general elections im daughter win election as member of Nigeria House of Representatives.