UAE Court of Appeal ruglling: James Ibori to be extradited to UK

A United Arab Emirates Court of Cassation in Dubai ruled that the former governor of Delta state, James Ibori, be extradited to the United Kingdom to face trial for money laundering, forgery, credit card fraud and grand theft charges.

The Court ruled on appeal by James Ibori against an earlier ruling by the Court of First Instance in Dubai which ordered Ibori's extradition to the UK last October.

Ibori was arrested in Dubai following an Interpol arrest warrant was filed by the Metropolitan Police in London, asking for his extradition.

Ibori's sister, Christine Ibori-Ibie, and mistress, Udoamaka Onuigbo, had been convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment by the court for helping the former governor launder funds said to be �looted� from Nigeria.

Ibori's wife, Theresa Nkoyo, and Ibori's former Lawyer, Bhadresh Gohil have also been convicted recently.

UK officials said they expect Ibori to be flown to the UK soon.

Ibori was charged in Nigeria with 170 counts of fraud and was acquitted of all of them by a federal court sitting in Asaba, his home Delta State last year.

Meanwhile, the Economic and financial crimes commission [EFCC] in a swift reaction to the Dubai court ruling said the ruling only goes to confirm their earlier position issued after the first ruling in October.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the EFCC has reacted to the ruling by An appeal court in the United Arab Emirates which ordered that former Nigeria governor, James Ibori, should be extradited to the UK for trial.

EFCC spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi said in a SMS ''Our reaction to the ruling of the Dubai appellate court on Ibori, the ruling today by the appellate court in Dubai only goes to confirm our earlier position issued after the first ruling in October that justice is universal and applicable anywhere in the world''.

Justice indeed,such diversion of fund impacts so negatively on the nations economy.