James Onanefe Ibori,
the former Delta State governor who became the international symbol of Nigerian
corruption when he was tried and jailed in the United Kingdom in 2012, will not
be home for Christmas at the weekend, or anytime soon, contrary to rumors.
A former commissioner in Mr. Ibori's administration, Ighoyota
Amori, had created the euphoria among Ibori’s
followers that his former
principal will be home for the Xmas from his jail cell in England.
Mr.
Amori first made the claim on September 25 in a speech in
Ibori's hometown of Oghara, Ethiope West local government area of the
state, during the 50th birthday celebration of the former Commissioner for
Transport, Ben Igbakpa.
“Our
leader, Chief James Onanefe Ibori will soon return to Oghara,” he bragged
repeatedly, asking for prayers for their hero. “Chief James Onanefe Ibori
will spend this year’s Christmas with us here. His coming is as certain as
death. We will all gather to give him a wonderful reception here in
Oghara. And our lives will begin again once he returns to the
country."
But
Mr. Amori assurances were as fraudulent as Ibori’s bank balances. Just
three days ago, Mr. Ibori's spokesperson Tony Eluemunor issued a statement
asking the public to disregard any talk of Ibori returning home anytime soon.
SaharaReporters
reliably gathered that hopes of Mr. Ibori’s release had been based on the
grievous miscalculation that his lawyer's claim of corruption by some UK
policemen involved in his investigation, as well as the prosecution team's
dissolution would magically result in his early freedom. The judge
handling his case has however insisted that the confiscation hearing aimed at
determining if Ibori hid any of his assets from the UK authorities would go
ahead.
That
hearing, not shameless Christmas parties in Delta State paid for with dubious
funds, is all that Mr. Ibori could look forward to this week, as it was
scheduled to begin yesterday December 19, and may last till the middle of 2017.
Based
on Mr. Amori’s baseless declarations, however, a chain of events was unleashed
in Delta State as the government, members of the People Democratic Party, the
people of Oghara, and some other elated Deltans began to prepare to welcome him
home today, December 20, a date that became widely publicized.
SaharaReporters
reliably learned that at various political and social gatherings, Amori
repeatedly publicized this date for Ibori’s homecoming, with the local
media whipped into a frenzy about it.
Following
Amori predictions, the people of Oghara, embarked on cleaning up and
beautifying the community with Ibori posters all over the place.
Equally
thrilled, SaharaReporters learned that state governor. Ifeanyi Okowa released
over one billion Naira ‘sfor the renovation of Ibori country home and for road
constructions, among other things.
saharareporters
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