Breaking: James Ibori released from London prison

James Ibori

Former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, has been released from prison, his media aide, Tony Eluemunor has confirmed.

Mr Ibori was released a few minutes past noon on Wednesday upon a court order, Eluemunor told Vanguard.

The 57-year-old, who ran the affairs in Delta from 1999 to 2007, was in 2012 jailed for 13 years by Southwark Crown court in Britain for money laundering.

The sentenced was later reduced and he served out his term midnight Tuesday.

His hometown of Oghara in the oil rich state has been agog in anticipation of the return of the man dubbed the Odidigborigbo of Africa.

A former commissioner during Ibori’s administration, Ighoyota Amori, had said on September 25 in a speech in Oghara during the 50th birthday celebration of another ex-commissioner, Ben Igbakpa, that “Our leader, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, will soon return to Oghara. Chief James Onanefe Ibori will spend this year’s Christmas with us here.

“His coming is as certain as death. We will all gather to give him a wonderful reception here in Oghara. And our lives will begin again once he returns to the country.”