The former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, popularly called Ogidigboigbo, would leave London prison by July, this year.
Itsekiri youth leader and Akulagba of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayirimi Emami disclosed the date while addressing journalists in Warri, Delta State on Friday.
Emami said that at the end of Ibori’s jail term, he would return to Nigeria; but he was not sure whether the former governor would remain in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or defect to another party.
He also chided the foremost Ijaw leader and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, for keeping sealed lips in the face of damming corruption allegations against his kinsman and former militant, Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Having led the then Delta State Elders and Stakeholders to petition EFCC under Nuhu Ribadu on corruption allegations against Ibori, Ayirimi wondered why the same Clark would, today, look the other way when his kinsman, Tompolo, is facing similar corrupt charges.
“The likes of E.K Clark under the aegis of Delta State Elders and Stakeholders Forum, through petitions, went after Ibori in his days. So, you’ll know that Ibori’s case was very, very political.
“Now, you’ve seen somebody who allegedly diverted money for some other things and was invited by EFCC and the court refused to let him go and went as far as allegedly vandalising pipelines and they’ve not even made any comment on it,” Emami stated.
He lauded former Secretary General of the National Union of Petroleum Employees and Natural Gas (NUPENG), Chief Frank Kokori, for asking Tompolo to give himself up for trial.
“These are the kind of elders we need at this time. The kind of elders who will look at you and say what you are doing is wrong.
“If I’m doing what is wrong, my elders should be able to tell me straight that it is wrong. Not because Kokori is an APC chieftain, what he said is very correct,” the new entrant to the family of APC in Delta noted.
Ibori was, on February 27, 2012, accused of looting $250 million from the government purse, and he pleaded guilty to 10 counts charge of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud at Southwark Crown Court, London.
He was subsequently sentenced to 13 years jail by the court on April 17, 2012.