SOCIETY WATCH; BOO BOO- CHIEF JAMES IBORI, A FUGITIVE FROM THE LAW

-AL HUMPHREY ONYANABO

There was a time when people who are knowledgeable about the power matrix at Aso Rock described James Ibori as one of the most powerful Nigerians. They claimed he had lunch with late President Yar Adua daily. He had the president’s ear and was also a member of the kitchen cabinet. His trial with the EFCC was window dressing. Despite his ongoing trial for money laundering, he was still attending parties and spraying money. I recall at Lulu Onabaifo’s mums burial in Benin City, Ibori came with a bus load of Naval security men. Mopol and soldiers had become two for one naira…. He was showing his power.
It seems such a long time ago because that pharaoh is no more and a new one sits on the thrown. The same guy, I hear he once called a traitor.
Today, Ibori has become a fugitive from the law, skipping town like a common thief and showing up in Dubai with arrogance and applying for asylum. Tonight I heard his bail has been revoked, and he will spend his days in jail until extradicted to the United Kingdom. A lot of international arm twisting would have been done to come to achieve this victory. The U.A.E government knew it was wise to give up a petty criminal than face the wrath of the U.K, U.S.A and Nigeria.
I knew it would come to this. I have been putting off this piece for weeks. I had wanted to advice Lucky Joe to play hard ball with the Arabs until they let Ibori go. I advised him to stop their planes from coming here and our traders from going to buy stuff from them. We are the biggest money spenders there.
I am glad Ibori, who my good friend Kayode Ajulo described as a serial convict will go and answer criminal charges against him in London any day now. He will soon join his girl friend and sister in jail. Perhaps get 10 years, come out after 5 years for good behavior and be deported home to answer and serve another stretch at Kiri Kiri. It’s a warning to all such corrupt scumbags that the game is up. Payback time is rolling in.