Former governor of Nigerian state pleads guilty to thievery charges

February 28, 2012

James Ibori, 53, managed to lie and deceive his way into the governor's seat of the oil-producing Delta state in Nigeria in 1999. During his "political career," Ibori managed to embezzle more than $250 million from the state, transferring the funds to accounts in the U.S. and paying cash for lavish houses, according to the BBC News. ThisDay.com reports Ibori was arrested for his alleged crimes while trying to purchase a $20 million plane in Dubai.

"He was never the legitimate governor and there was effectively a thief in the government house," prosecutor Sasha Wass told the BBC. "As the pretender of that public office, he was able to plunder Delta state's wealth and hand out patronage."

Ibori lied about his birthdate and his criminal record when he ran for the office of governor. He, along with his his wife, had been convicted in the U.K. for stealing money from a store in 1991, and was convicted of stealing a credit card the following year.

The news publication reports Ibori will be sentenced in April. Those who want to know more about the corrupt former leader can use international phone cards to make calls to Nigeria to talk to their friends about the situation.

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