The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday expressed delight at the confession of ex-governor James Onanefe Ibori before a Southwark Crown Court in London by pleading guilty, saying it awaits the sentencing of the embattled former governor on April 16.
The commission also indicated that the former governor would also be tried in Nigeria after serving his jail terms in the UK.
A statement by the spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the EFCC had been vindicated that the ex-govenor had a case to answer.
He said, “The interesting aspect of the development in London is the fact that Ibori chickened out of a full blown fraud and money laundering trial by changing his plea.
“This was purely a gambit to run away with a lighter sentence, rather than the product of a plea bargain as erroneously reported earlier in sections of the media. For the avoidance doubt, plea bargain is not recognised in UK criminal justice system.
“Sadly, it has taken five years of legal rigmarole and high drama for the former governor to own up to having committed some of the crimes for which Justice Marcel Awokulehin of the Federal High Court, Asaba, sensationally acquitted him in December 2009. The commission challenged the ruling. That appeal is still pending before the Court of Appeal, Benin City, Edo State.”
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