The Delta State Government paid former Governor James Ibori as much as N250m while he was in jail in the United Kingdom between 2012 and 2016, an investigation has revealed.
Recall that Ibori was convicted on February 27, 2012, after pleading guilty to 10 counts of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud at a Southwark Crown Court, London.
It was learnt that Ibori, who was accused of stealing over £250m, was entitled to life pension being a former governor of Delta state, and in just 5 years Delta has paid him N250m.
Ibori, who served between 1999 and 2007, signed into law the Delta State Governor and Deputy Governor Pension Rights and Other Benefits Law 2005 which was later amended in 2009.
The law makes provision for an ex-governor to be paid N50m per year among other perks.
Defending the payment of the cash to Ibori in 2012, the then Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah, said Ibori would continue to be paid N50m until a court nullified his tenure in office.
He said this in reaction to an affidavit deposed to by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission which accused the state government of enriching a man who was in prison.
Funny enough Delta State is one of the states currently struggling to pay salaries to workers and it is sad that the state is owning pensioners, peoples’ fathers and mothers who earns few thousands.
