Goodluck rumoured to have paid secret visit to Ibori during flying visit to the UK Monday, 29 December 2014 15:55 PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is rumoured to have paid a visit to former Delta State governor James Ibori during a visit to the UK yesterday in what is thought to be a prelude to the implementation of a prisoner exchange programme between both countries. In April 2012, Chief Ibori was sentenced to a 13-year jail term at Southwark Crown Court in London after pleading guilty to 10 counts of money laundering. It is believed that the total amount he stole from Delta State adds up to over £200m and a confiscation hearing is still ongoing to determine the full extent of his kleptomania. Since Chief Iboris incarceration, however, there have been numerous talks between the British and Nigerian governments about introducing a prisoner exchange programme. On January 9 this year, Nigeria and the UK signed a Prisoner Transfer Agreement that authorises both governments to deport inmates to their country of birth so they can serve out their prison terms there. At the moment, about 15,316 Nigerians are in various prisons abroad with the largest number serving time in the UK. However, due to the severity of Chief Iboris offences and the negative message it would send out, British officials have taken the unprecedented step of announcing that he will not be allowed to benefit from the programme. There are fears that if allowed to return to Nigeria, Chief Ibori will be pardoned and released by the government. Yesterday, however, President Jonathan visited the UK for a private visit, surrounded in secrecy but it was rumoured that he paid a secret visit to Chief Ibori. President Jonathans spokesman Dr Reuben Abati, said: “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan left Abuja on Sunday afternoon for a brief private visit to the United Kingdom. The president was accompanied on the trip by some of his principal staff and personal aides and is expected back in Abuja on Monday ahead of official engagements at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday including scheduled audiences with groups from Delta and Lagos States.” One other matter President Jonathan was thought to have discussed with his aides in the UK was the holding of a Goodluck Development Foundation seminar in London on January 17. Planned to take place at the Holiday Inn in Regents Park, the seminar is theoretically a charitable event but it is seen as part of President Jonathans re-election campaign.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 03:34:29 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015