Date Published: 12/13/10

Ibori loses at appeal as Court orders his extradition to U.K

James Ibori

After several days of waiting, two-time governor of Delta State, James Onanefe Ibori's appeal fell flat as a United Arab Emirate Appeal Court ruled that he be extradited to the United Kingdom (UK) for trial over charges of money laundering, credit card fraud and official theft. Ibori sneaked out of Nigeria to escape trial.

In Dubai, where he sought refuge but was arrested last May, the country’s court of Appeal granted the request of the British government that he should be extradited. No date has been fixed yet for his extradition.

The former Governor is expected to appeal the Appeal Court ruling at the Dubai Supreme Court.

Last April the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which accused Ibori of stealing over $290 million (about N43.5 billion), after failing to penetrate the security built around him by his kinsmen, declared him wanted.

The judges ruled that there were sufficient grounds to grant the extradition of Ibori to UK.