Former Delta State governor, James Ibori, will be reporting once in a week at a London police station hence cannot come back to Nigeria immediately. But his freedom has kicked up celebration across Delta State, an obvious statement that he is still a strong factor in South-south politics.
Ibori reputed for his benevolence was released by a London high court which that the Home Office cannot further detain Ibori, who completed his 13-year sentence on Tuesday. He was released on Wednesday morning from a London prison.
The UK’s Home Office in a last minute bid tried to block his release on the premise that his assets confiscation hearing remained inconclusive.
But ruling Wednesday, presiding Judge, Mrs. Justice May, who heard an emergency appeal filed by Ibori to enforce his rights, however refused the Home Office’s request to further hold him in prison and ordered his immediate release without conditions. Ibori, who was in court for the suit will have to reside at his St. John’s Wood residence and will report to the police once weekly. Both parties will return to court in January for hearing on his asset confiscation case, the judge ordered.
His release has spurred jubilation across the state from Oghara, his hometown to Asaba, the state capital. Asaba, residents, especially Asaba youths, rolled out their drums to celebrate as they sang and danced on Nnebisi Road, Summit Junction, Okpanam Road and Anwai Road. Traders at the popular Ogbeogonogo Market, civil servants and government House officers joined in the celebration.
Reacting to the news, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Peter Mrakpor, in a chat with journalists in Asaba, described Ibori’s release as a welcome development; adding that his contributions to nation-building cannot be over-emphasised.
