Crime News
Outrage Over The Celebration Of James Ibori’s Release From London Prison
December 22, 2016 – Outrage Over The Celebration Of James Ibori’s Release From UK Prison
Today people expressed displeasure with the celebration of the release of James Ibori, a former Delta Governor, from a prison in London.
In a chat with NAN in Lagos, most people said such celebration was condemnable, unfortunate and uncalled for.
The former governor of Delta was on Wednesday released from prison in London, U.K.
Ibori was jailed in 2012, two years after he was arrested by the Interpol in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, where he was hiding after fleeing Nigeria.
He was sentenced to 13 years in prison by Southwark Crown Court on April 17, 2012 after pleading guilty to 10-count charge of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud.
In spite of his guilty plea and conviction for corruption, his kinsmen at Oghara and other Urhobo communities in the Delta, however, turned the affair to a carnival as they lined up major streets dancing.
There was wild jubilation in Delta following the news of the release of the former governor.
A retired teacher, Mr Augustine, said it was unfortunate that some Nigerians celebrated criminals and those who contributed to the bad situation of the country.
“It’s a shame that we are celebrating those who had contributed the increased unemployment rate in the country, lack of healthcare services, dwindling standard of education and failed democracy among other challenges.
“Until we start to change our ways and mindset, we will continue to wallow in our problems in the nation,’’ Igwe said.
In his views, Mr Sesan Adeleye, a businessman, said such jubilation showed that politicians had successfully brainwashed some citizens with ill-gotten wealth.
“The problem of some Nigerians is a clear case of poverty of the mind. We value wealth so much. They are not even bothered about why he went to prison.
“They are already waiting for him to come back so that he can continue to distribute ill-gotten money to them.
“They don’t even care that the money stolen was meant for their welfare and development,’’ he said.
Also, Dr Edewede Iyamu, a private physician, told NAN that the celebration over Ibori’s release was uncalled for as he also contributed to the pervasively poor and under developed state of the Niger Delta.
“Those from Niger Delta continue to blame the Federal Government for the challenges confronting their region, whereas, people like Ibori should be held responsible. “It is sad that people from that region are now celebrating him,’’ she said.
A Lagos-based legal practitioner, Mr Adekunle Aribisala, said something must be done to stop the celebration of criminality in the country as it was becoming rampant.
Aribisala also expressed worry that it would not be easy for the Western community to release the money in question — 18 million Pounds — to the Nigerian government.
“We had the same situation when Chief Bode George and Mr Hamza Al-Mustapha were released too, now it’s Ibori. I feel really ashamed as a Nigerian.
“We do not need people like that in our society any longer. They need to be isolated so they don’t corrupt more people,’’ he said.
In her opinion, Alhaja Aishe Jelil, a civil servant, said the future of the youth who were being used by politicians called for concern.
“We seem to have lost our values in this society, I wonder what the future holds for our future generations. They are celebrating Ibori because they consider him a hero and a role model,’’ she said.
Uzoma
December 22, 2016 at 6:03 PM
Unfortunately these are the same people who will still vote for him to come back to rule them. Now people can see why corruption will be hard to eradicate in Nigeria. Thieves are worshipped and glorified while the honest ones are ridiculed. It is unfortunate.
Jilo
December 22, 2016 at 6:41 PM
These are the same set of people that are crying of starvation, salary not paid, inflation yet they don’t see nothing wrong in this guy who have robbed them of their Billions of Naira yet they prefer him to Buhari because he is from their clan. Have you forgotten that this guy was the one that put you in position of hardship today? Why are you then blaming Buhari for your predicaments?
Until when we learn how to be honest and shun nepotism, we will continue to experience the same problem we are experiencing right now. Just look at them behind the truck holding a bottle of beer or drink and singing praises of Ibori. May be one of Ibori guys bought them drinks while they mortgage their life away. At times I can’t just fathom how we reason as a black race.
Endure
December 22, 2016 at 7:11 PM
A man was found guilty of stealing and was jailed in abroad something that we’ve been unable to do here in our country even at the height of this administration’s much ridiculed ant corruption war. This thief was let out of jail in UK and what do you hear many supporters of corruption say…..“welcome back our hero”…“.welcome back our great leader”. this is shameful,appalling and condemnable.
A man deliberately robbed you blind,deprived you of basic necessities in your state,stole what belong to you,your children and your generation yet unborn to the danger of poverty and misery but the best you can come up with is to welcome this thief with extravagant display of support in the public.
Some shallow-minded ones claimed he did far better than his successors by building schools,constructed roads and provided portable water. But what this slow-witted ones so far forgot to realize is that,those amenities that James Ibori provided in delta state was with the help of government’s money and not his personal cash. What he did was just what is mandated law. Then why should that be a reason to throw our weight behind a thief who stole $250 million while in office?
With all this celebratory display in the public,how will this corrupt entity regret his action of stealing the nation’s money? How will he be remorseful and remain sober when he sees serious jubilation in his support? They are jubilating he’s coming back…the question is, to come back and do what? Return to continue looting where he left off?
We tend to be backward in our power of reasoning in this country. I just Wonder what is exactly wrong with us a people in this country. We’ve gotten so rotten, we can’t even tell and admit the truth to ourselves. James Ibori’s trial and subsequent show of support from nigerians is a grim reminder of how far we’ve sunk in this nation. Shame to NIGERIA.
fifelomo
December 22, 2016 at 7:31 PM
James ibori all you need to do is join APC, and in a twinkle of an eye your past will he history. Mchew, yeyenatu.
commenthin
December 22, 2016 at 8:00 PM
#Change Begins With You
Our individual problems:
1. Ethnicity and religion
2. Poverty of the mind and spirit
3. Inferiority complex and semi-illiterate (4get the BSc.)
4. Value 4-quick ill-gotten wealth and show-offs
5. Self-centeredness and eroded cultural norms w/deceitful tongues
*We live in a zoo/banana republic govern by ritualist and swallow dishonest-money/wealth addicts politheifians.
Aromoke
December 22, 2016 at 8:10 PM
Fools
IkeGod
December 22, 2016 at 8:30 PM
No be small thing my brother. When a thief is been congratulated for stealing what do you expect he would do next? shame on those celebrating the release of a world known criminal that called himself a former governor
sola olaniyi
December 22, 2016 at 9:14 PM
very unfortunate @Uzoma
Lola O
December 22, 2016 at 9:50 PM
What is there to rejoice about in their Governor being a criminal? Your suffering has just begun. What lessons are your children learning from you? Shameless people…..Only in Nigeria!
chi
December 23, 2016 at 8:14 AM
what a country
Mon
December 23, 2016 at 12:31 PM
He just came back from holidays and not prison….
Weeping for my country..
No Name
December 23, 2016 at 12:41 PM
This people plus the ex convict should be hiding their faces in shame.
Jordan jonhson
December 23, 2016 at 9:07 PM
Did obasanjo not steal???? And came out of prison and become president of Nigeria and up till now he’s still ruling Nigeria please can anyone please tell me 1 politicians who is not a muthafucking habitual theaf!!!!! Ibori is a good man but he also stole money just because he got caught what about the rest who are still stealing till date today????? Nigerians have seen enough and it’s only in Nigeria a criminal can rule and nothing happens infact only a stupid foolish idiot that will continue to selfishly behave like a barber chair any direction you positioned makes you comfortable nonsense
Jordan jonhson
December 23, 2016 at 9:10 PM
Did obasanjo not steal???? And came out of prison and become president of Nigeria and up till now he’s still ruling Nigeria please can anyone please tell me 1 politicians who is not a muthafucking habitual theive!!!!! Ibori is a good man but he also stole money just because he got caught what about the rest who are still stealing till date today????? Nigerians have seen enough and it’s only in Nigeria a criminal can rule and nothing happens infact only a stupid foolish idiot that will continue to selfishly behave like a barber chair any direction you positioned makes you comfortable nonsense
ade eagle
December 25, 2016 at 9:33 PM
he should be kept in prison longer than that corrupt bastard
ade eagle
December 25, 2016 at 9:34 PM
shameless people celebrating a thief