EXCLUSIVE: How James Ibori who was jailed for fraud in UK handed entire PDP political structure in Delta to Tinubu
The massive wave of defection which greeted Delta State on Wednesday, 23 of April, 2024, appears to be a well plotted political horse trading by James Ibori, a former governor of the state and an old ally of President Bola Tinubu, a source privy to the latest political development reliably told News Band Newspaper.
“He just moved his political family to APC. He was contracted by Mr. President Bola Tinubu to do the dirty job.
“But Omo Agege is grumbling as he will lose APC leadership in Delta State to Sheriff.
“Ibori here went to update PBAT on the Delta assignment well carried out”, the source said.
Yesterday, the entire political landscape of Delta State and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was thrown off balance after the news of Sheriff Oborevwori, Delta State Governor and his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa defection to the All Progressive Congress.
Chief Press Secretary to governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Sir Festus Ahon said the decision by his principal to defect to APC was made after “wide consultations with political stakeholders and in the interest of Delta’s long-term development.
But News Band understand that there is more to the defection jamboree.
Mr. Tinubu, inside sources told this medium, is completely unease, following the political rumblings in Northern states, which are threatening to withdraw support for him.
The president has been accused of running a nepotistic government. Moreover, to beat the Northern folks to their game, Mr. Tinubu, ahead of the 2027 general elections, decided to activate the necessary political machinery, including coercing some corrupt opposition governors from the South to join in his re-election bid or get booted out of office.
News Band understand that the political intimidation by the former Lagos State governor (Tinubu), culminated in the current hand over of Delta State political structure which belongs to PDP to him.
Though, Chief Ibori, an old ally of president Bola Tinubu and political godfather, was drafted to do the dirty job in the oil producing state.
The massive defection was nothing but an end product of a well calculated political maneuvering ahead of 2027.
President Bola Tinubu is playing with Fire.
But a political heavyweight in the North and a member of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC)—one of the parties that formed APC in 2013, told News Band that Tinubu is playing with fire with his lastest political showmanship in the South.
The heavyweight who doesn’t want to be quoted, said president Bola Tinubu will be taught a bitter lesson come 2027.
“Tinubu feels by coercing and putting the Southern governors into his pocket, his re-election bid is guaranteed. We in CPCP will teach him a bitter lesson of his life”, the political heavyweight said.
Relationship between President Bola Tinubu and James Ibori.
James Ibori has been a long time ally of president Bola Tinubu, beginning when they were investigated for Vmobile scam.
The Vmobile scam refers to alleged corruption and financial mismanagement involving the privatization and sale of the mobile telecommunications company Vmobile (formerly known as Econet Nigeria and later Celtel/Zain before becoming Airtel Nigeria).
This was part of the broader telecom privatization process in Nigeria during the early 2000s, when the country was liberalizing its telecommunications sector.
Ibori was alleged to have illicitly acquired shares in Vmobile through proxy companies and laundered money through them.
He was accused of diverting state funds to invest in the telecom sector and overseas properties.
The telecom sector in Nigeria was a hotspot for corruption due to its rapid growth and lack of strong regulatory oversight.
The Vmobile story is often cited in Nigerian media and civil society as an example of how politically exposed persons (PEPs) used front companies to buy into lucrative telecom assets using public funds or laundered money.
While Ibori’s involvement is well-documented and led to international conviction, Tinubu’s case remained largely speculative and was never formally prosecuted in connection to Vmobile.
The Vmobile scandal and the investigations into James Ibori and Bola Tinubu highlight the complexities of Nigeria’s efforts to combat corruption, especially within its telecommunications sector.
James Ibori served as the Governor of Delta State from 1999 to 2007.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Ibori with 170 counts, including conspiracy, official corruption, diversion and misappropriation of public funds, stealing, and money laundering.
He initially evaded prosecution in Nigeria by having his case transferred to a court in Delta State, where all charges were struck out by a judge related to him.
In 2010, Ibori was arrested in Dubai under Interpol warrants and extradited to the UK.
In 2012, he pleaded guilty in a UK court to 10 charges related to corruption and money laundering, including offenses linked to the sale of Vmobile shares.
Sources said that Bola Tinubu who was allegedly fingered in the scam had to bribe the then chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu to drop the investigation against him.
Ribadu is the current National Security Adviser under the present administration.
Though, no formal charges related to Vmobile were made public against President Bola Tinubu.
Bola Tinubu was the Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.
In 2007, the EFCC and the CCB investigated him over allegations of operating foreign bank accounts and potential misuse of state funds.
In January 2009, the EFCC cleared Tinubu, along with former Governors James Ibori and Victor Attah, of charges related to the sale of Vmobile network shares.
Tinubu maintained that the investment in Econet (now Airtel) was straightforward and profitable for Lagos State, with no intermediaries involved.
However, asset recovery efforts related to James Ibori have been substantial, involving international cooperation and legal proceedings.
In contrast, while Bola Tinubu has faced allegations, there have been no formal asset recovery actions against him.
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