Ibori’s Extradition Process Starts In Dubai

PHOTO: CHIEF JAMES ONANEFE IBORI.

San Francisco, May 16, (THEWILL) – The process for the extradition of Chief James Onanefe Ibori following his arrest by INTERPOL last Wednesday in Dubai, UAE begins on Monday when operatives of the Metropolitan Police Service supported by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Dubai Police and INTERPOL exchange intelligence and documents that would pave way for his extradition to London to face money laundering charges.

Chief Ibori who was granted bail with strict conditions according to sources deposited his international travel documents and has an electronic monitoring device (GPS) attached to his person to enable authorities keep track of his movements until the request for his extradition is determined by Dubai authorities.

The former Delta State governor was arrested at the request of the Metropolitan police for various alleged financial offences including money laundering perpetuated during his tenure as governor of the oil rich Niger Delta State. Some of his associates including close family members are currently standing trial for their alleged roles in the alleged elaborate money-laundering scheme.

Ibori has however denied any wrong doing accusing his "political enemies in Nigeria and their UK co-conspirators of declaring him wanted over charges that have not yet been made public just to influence the outcome of the case against some of his associates in a London court."

A few weeks ago the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared Ibori wanted a few days before the date he was ordered to appear before the commission prompting the governor to file a suit at a Federal High Court in Asaba urging the court to restrain the agency from arresting him. The judge however refused to grant the governor’s request and ruled that both parties maintain the status quo pending the determination of his request.

The EFCC interpreted 'maintain the status quo' as executing an earlier warrant it had obtained for Ibori while Ibori interpreted it differently. He thereafter refused to turn himself in and went underground until he surfaced in Dubai a few days ago where he was apprehended on Wednesday night.

THEWILL gathered from sources that Ibori has put together a legal team to fight his extradition to London. Analysts expect the proceedings to be wrapped up within two weeks at most.

If Ibori is successfully extradited to the United Kingdom, he will become the second person to have been extradited from Dubai to London since both countries signed the mutual cooperation Treaty in 2008.

The first person to be extradited from the UAE to Britain has gone on trial for the brutal murder of a disabled man. 


Mr. Jeleel Ahmed, 28, made history last August when he was flown from Dubai back to Britain under the extradition Treaty.

He has been held on remand in prison since being flown back to the United Kingdom. He is accused of acting as the driver for two "assassins" who fatally stabbed Shanwaz Ali, a muscular dystrophy sufferer who could only walk a short distance, outside his home in Birmingham in 2006.

Sources at the EFCC told THEWILL that the commission would allow the UK authorities finish his prosecution in London and the outcome would determine its next line of action.

See 'attachments' for a copy of the Treaty between the UK and the UAE.