News security

UK Court Orders James Ibori To Pay $130m

FILE PHOTO: James Ibori, former governor of Nigeria's Delta State, speaks after a court hearing outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Britain, January 31, 2017. REUTERS/Estelle Shirbon/File Photo
Written by Bunmi Abdulraheem

A United Kingdom judge, has ordered James Ibori, a former governor of Delta state to pay over $130m.

Reuters news agency reports Ibori was being accused of stealing the the money.

Ibori was convicted in London of fraud and money laundering in 2012.

The judge, David Tomlinson said that Ibori had to pay the money immediately or face jail once again, Reuters says.

Ibori had earlier told Reuters that he would appeal the decision of the court.

The case was described as a landmark in the fight against corruption in Britain, a global money-laundering hub.

The Judge delivering the confiscation order at Southwark Crown Court, asked Ibori to pay the sum immediately or face an eight-year jail sentence.

James Onanefe Ibori is a Nigerian politician, who was Governor of Delta State in Nigeria from May 29, 1999 to May 29 2007.