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‘I am a mad man if I do not contest this’ — Ibori reacts to £101.5m forfeiture order

Published

3 years ago

July 23, 2023

James Onanefe Ibori

‘I am a mad man if I do not contest this’ — Ibori reacts to £101.5m forfeiture order

James Onanefe Ibori, a former Governor of Delta State, has broken silence over the UK’s Southwark Crown Court’s ruling to forfeit £101.5 million or risk eight years in jail.

In a Facebook statement, the former governor said that after more than a decade of confiscating and investigating his assets, Judge David Tomlinson’s July 21 ruling demonstrated that he could no longer trust the court to treat him fairly or give him justice, and that he would appeal the ruling.

Ibori had previously spent a five-year jail term in the UK from 2012 to 2016, after pleading guilty to ten counts of fraud and money laundering charges. In 2020, the UK authorities reopened charges against him, tying him to illicitly obtained assets worth £117 million.

On Friday, Tomlinson, a Southwark Crown Court Judge, ruled that Ibori must pay £101.5 million right away or face an eight-year prison sentence.

Responding, Ibori wrote:

“Albert Einstein is quoted as saying that the ‘definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result’”.

“If that is true then I must be going mad because in over a decade since the British courts have been persecuting myself and those close to me, I kept believing that justice and fairness would eventually triumph.

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“In hearing after hearing through the years, despite some of the most logic defying rulings against me, I still believed. Despite clear evidence of police corruption against the main officer in my case (evidence so strong that it caused the lead prosecutor to resign from my case), I still believed. Despite a clear victory in my 2013 confiscation hearing which left the Judge unable to make an order against me, only to have him rule that the prosecution should start the trial afresh some years later – I still believed.

“However, today’s ruling from Judge Tomlinson is difficult to comprehend and even harder to accept. I have to move past the fact that the British courts found themselves competent to sit in judgment over contracts awarded in Delta State; contracts that were legitimately awarded and completed. I have come to accept my fate despite the inability of the British prosecutors to show any evidence whatsoever of monies defrauded or indeed missing from Delta State.

“Since 2005, the British prosecutors have investigated my assets worldwide; they have had a restraint order in place on most of those assets and they are well aware that the total monetary value of those assets is nowhere close to the sums that were the subject of today’s order.

“Notwithstanding the fact that many of the assets are not and have never been owned by me – it seems that if you are my friend and you allowed me to spend some holiday time in your house, then by this order I now own your home and must ask you to sell it to satisfy the Order.

“The Order made today was to be paid immediately, this was made in the full knowledge that it could take many months to actually realise the sale of many of these assets.

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“There is an eight-year default sentence, which means that if I do not co-operate and pay nothing at all, then the prosecution can apply for the imposition of the default sentence. However, as the prosecution already has a Restraint Order over the assets – the situation of my not co-operating or paying should not arise.

“However, an issue arises if my Restrained Assets are sold, and the total realised from the sale does not equal the amount in the Order, then the Prosecution can still apply for part of the default sentence to be applied, but they could only ask for a sliding scale reduction of the eight years default sentence based on the amounts that remain outstanding.

“If such an application were to be made it would be vigorously contested. In the normal course of events any talk of a default sentence would normally be stayed until any outstanding Appeal has been concluded.

“The Judge in this case has appeared to have cast aside any pretence of impartiality and has made an Order which is both wholly unrealistic and unrealisable. He has completely disregarded any arguments, evidence or expert witnesses in my favour. It was apparent during these last two days that he has forgotten many of the important elements of the case which is unsurprising as it almost 2 years since the case concluded.

“It has taken him two years to write this Judgment and in the interim he has presided over hundreds of cases, but I refuse to make excuses for him.

“At this point in time words fail me and so the question for me as I take my case to the Court of Appeal, is, if I continue to believe that I may finally get some Justice, is this the definition of madness? I know one thing for sure, that if I do not go to the Court of Appeal to contest this outrageous Order the people will definitely say that I am a madman!”

Related Topics:Featured forfeiture James Onanefe Ibori

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Gunmen Storm Gbugbu in Kwara, Residents Flee as Panic Spreads

Published

5 hours ago

February 23, 2026

Trends Admin

Public Relations Officer, Kwara State Police Command, SP Adetoun Ejire‑Adeyemi

Gunmen Storm Gbugbu in Kwara, Residents Flee as Panic Spreads

Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State was thrown into panic on Sunday night after suspected gunmen launched a violent attack on Gbugbu community, firing indiscriminately and forcing residents to flee into bushes and nearby safe zones. The assault is the latest in a string of violent incidents deepening insecurity in Kwara and neighbouring areas.

According to witnesses, the gunmen stormed the town shortly after 8:00 p.m., opening fire and creating chaos. One resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “The bandits stormed the community immediately after Isa’i, shooting non-stop and throwing residents into panic. Everyone ran indoors or fled into the bush.” As of the time of reporting, there were no official confirmations of casualties or the number of abducted residents.

The attack has heightened fears in Edu, Patigi, Ifelodun, and Oyun local government areas, where residents have reported rising attacks by armed groups in recent weeks. Days earlier, similar raids were reported in Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama LGA, resulting in the killing and abduction of several villagers.

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While the Kwara State Police spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, was unavailable for comments, local sources said security forces were mobilized to pursue the attackers and secure the community. Reports also indicate that some families spent the night outdoors, fearing a repeat of the violence.

The spate of attacks comes as the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, recently launched Joint Task Force Operation Savannah Shield to combat insecurity in Kwara and parts of Niger State. The operation aims to target terrorists, bandits, and criminal gangs responsible for kidnappings, armed raids, and killings in rural communities.

Community leaders and residents have called for urgent intervention by security agencies to rescue any abducted villagers, restore peace, and prevent further escalation of violence. Analysts warn that without sustained military and police engagement, armed attacks could spread further across the state, destabilizing vulnerable communities and hindering local development.

The incident in Gbugbu underscores the ongoing security challenges in Nigeria’s middle belt, where banditry and terrorism continue to disrupt livelihoods, schools, and local economies. Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant, cooperate with security forces, and report suspicious movements in their communities.

Gunmen Storm Gbugbu in Kwara, Residents Flee as Panic Spreads

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FG to Launch Monthly Revenue Transparency Dashboards to Improve Fiscal Accountability

Published

5 hours ago

February 23, 2026

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Dr. Doris Uzoka‑Anite, the Minister of State for Finance and FAAC Chairman

FG to Launch Monthly Revenue Transparency Dashboards to Improve Fiscal Accountability

The Federal Government (FG) has announced plans to launch monthly revenue transparency dashboards to enhance fiscal accountability and provide public visibility of government income and expenditure across the three tiers of government. The initiative was disclosed by Dr. Doris Uzoka‑Anite, the Minister of State for Finance and FAAC Chairman, during the recent Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting in Abuja.

Dr. Uzoka‑Anite explained that the dashboards are necessary due to expected increases in government revenue following recent structural reforms, including a Presidential Executive Order (EO) on oil and gas revenue and expanded tax collections under the new Tax Act. These reforms are expected to significantly boost FAAC distributable funds, improve revenue discipline, and reduce leakages in the management of oil proceeds and tax inflows.

The planned dashboards will provide monthly, real-time access to detailed data on government revenue, including oil and gas receipts, tax collections, and other federal revenue streams. Citizens, policymakers, and analysts will be able to monitor allocations, track inflows, and scrutinize expenditure, promoting transparency and accountability across federal, state, and local governments.

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Dr. Uzoka‑Anite urged all tiers of government to prioritize capital expenditure over recurrent spending, invest in sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, energy, and productive enterprises, and avoid unsustainable wage growth or consumption spikes. She also emphasized the importance of using incremental revenue inflows to reduce debt burdens, clear arrears responsibly, and fund growth-enhancing projects.

The minister highlighted that a portion of one-off payments from the EO on oil revenues could be retained in a Stabilisation Fund, released gradually to support macroeconomic stability and prevent excess liquidity from driving inflationary pressures. She further said that production-to-remittance reconciliation reporting and detailed reporting of incremental gains from tax reforms and EO-driven inflows would be implemented to improve fiscal monitoring.

“The revenue outlook is changing, and structural reforms are expected to materially strengthen Federation revenues,” Dr. Uzoka‑Anite told state finance commissioners. “Improved revenue performance requires improved fiscal coordination. A sudden liquidity injection across all tiers of government could create inflationary risks and reduce the real value of allocations. Structured mechanisms and phased disbursements are therefore critical to safeguard macroeconomic stability.”

The introduction of these monthly revenue dashboards aligns with the FG’s broader commitment to open data, fiscal transparency, and responsible revenue management, ensuring that rising inflows from oil, gas, and taxes are tracked, reconciled, and used efficiently to promote economic growth and stability across Nigeria.

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Troops Repel Coordinated Attacks in Borno, Kill 25 Terrorists, Soldier Dies

Published

6 hours ago

February 23, 2026

Trends Admin

Nigerian military troop

Troops Repel Coordinated Attacks in Borno, Kill 25 Terrorists, Soldier Dies

Nigerian troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have killed 25 suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters, lost one soldier, and wounded several others while repelling coordinated terrorist attacks in Limankara and Kukawa, Borno State, military sources confirmed. The intense clashes, which erupted on the night of February 20, 2026, underscore the growing pressure on insurgent camps, logistics networks, and leadership in the region.

Lt. Col. Sani Uba, Media Information Officer of JTF OPHK, said that troops also conducted precision operations in Lamusheri Village, Gujba Local Government Area, a known terrorist hub and logistics base. Supported by air surveillance and intelligence gathering, troops destroyed defensive structures, neutralised 15 insurgents, and recovered or destroyed weapons, ammunition, and vehicles. Several militants fled with gunshot injuries.

Earlier, terrorists attempted to infiltrate the Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Limankara, but alert troops engaged them in a fierce firefight. Combined ground and air support forced the attackers to retreat, leaving behind casualties and abandoned equipment. No soldiers were injured during this engagement.

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In Kukawa, insurgents launched a multi-pronged assault using gun trucks, motorcycles, and foot soldiers, approaching from multiple axes. Troops mounted a determined defence, supported by air strikes, which destroyed a gun truck, five motorcycles, and neutralised ten additional fighters. Recovered items included rifles, loaded magazines, radios, stretchers, and shallow graves left by fleeing insurgents.

While one gallant soldier lost his life, others who sustained gunshot injuries are receiving treatment and are in stable condition, military sources said. Lt. Col. Uba commended the troops for their discipline, courage, and operational excellence, noting that the operations have significantly degraded the capacity of terrorist groups in the North-East.

The officer emphasized that sustained air-ground coordination continues to deny insurgents freedom of movement, disrupt logistics routes, and force them into chaotic withdrawals, enhancing the safety of local communities. Analysts say these operations reflect a growing reliance on intelligence-driven, technology-supported counter-terrorism strategies to dismantle insurgent networks in Borno State and the wider North-East region.