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Ibori’s conviction a lesson for corrupt leaders – Human Right Watch

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday said that the money laundering conviction and 13-year prison term for former Delta state governor, James Ibori, is … Continue reading Ibori’s conviction a lesson for corrupt leaders – Human Right Watch


The Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday said that the money laundering conviction and 13-year prison term for former Delta state governor, James Ibori, is a landmark in the global fight against corruption.

A statement issued by the HRW said the world has just got smaller for government officials who believe they can loot their country’s resources with impunity.

“The world has just got smaller for government officials who believe they can loot their country’s resources with impunity,” said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
“By prosecuting Ibori, the UK authorities have struck a blow not only against financial crimes at home, but also against impunity for corruption around the globe.”

Mr. Bekele said “this case was not just about financial transactions in British banks; it was about acknowledging global responsibility for helping to stop the devastating human cost of corruption in Nigeria.”

The Human Right Watch had reported that Nigerians are yet to benefit from the country’s tremendous oil wealth. Maternal mortality rates are among the world’s highest, and poverty rates continue to climb. Nearly 100 million Nigerians – some 60 percent of the population – live on less than a dollar a day, according to a recent report from the National Bureau of Statistics.

Public funds that could have been used to improve schools and health facilities have instead been squandered and siphoned off by the country’s ruling elite. Human Rights Watch has documented how in some cases powerful politicians have used the vast wealth at their disposal to arm criminal gangs that fuel political violence.

Despite the EFCC’s efforts in Nigeria to combat endemic government corruption – since 2005, the agency has arraigned 19 former state governors on corruption charges – not a single senior politician or government official in Nigeria is currently serving any prison time for these crimes.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom continues to provide substantial foreign aid to Nigeria. The Department for International Development announced, in 2011, that it would allocate $1.6 billion in aid to Nigeria over the next four years, more than doubling the amount of annual aid over this period.