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The
conversation on this topic fell into two distinct chapters but both had
to do really with hubris, his hubris of course, and the
quintessentially Nigerian version of it. Both conversations were laced
with humour, the confident and safe humour of people who are sure they
will never end up in such dire straits.

What
possessed the man to go to Dubai? Even Farida Waziri, head of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which wants him for the
illegal disposal of 528 million shares belonging to Delta State in
Oceanic Bank, almost could not contain herself: “My initial reaction
when I heard of Ibori’s arrest was that of excitement, and surprise
too. Surprise because somebody said he had gone to Ghana. Some people
also said he is still somewhere in Delta, some say in his village in
Warri. My mind never went to Dubai.

“But
the MET police have a relationship with Dubai police. They told me that
if he is in Dubai they will get him; that it will be easier to track
him down. If he had gone to places like China or Japan, and then it
would have been difficult. I was very excited.” Ibori could comfortably
have lain low at home, hiding as it were, in plain sight, enjoying
wholesome Nigerian food under the protection of his people who had
sworn to defend their native son against his political detractors. It
did really strain credibility to try to imagine Mr. Ibori, PDP big man
and presidential campaign funder as a political prisoner, but Nigeria
is a land of infinite possibilities.

There
were suggestions that Mr. Ibori might even have fared better if he gave
himself up at home, even if that meant ending up in a Nigerian prison
where he would still have retained a modicum of power and influence
enough to ensure that even if he was a prisoner he would still be a
very important one, a VVIP.

Comparisons were made with Bode George, also a PDP bigman, now, as they
say cooling his heels in the VIP section of Kirirkiri Maximum Security
Prison in Lagos. Already the dust has settled around that momentous
event and the relentless cycle of life in Lagos and environs, Abuja and
the hinterlands, and in all other restless corners of our land, has
continued in its steady whirr, without Chief Bode George.

It
is not likely that the British Penal System has similar VIP wings or
that it would consider the likes of Mr. Ibori as candidates for
“special treatment”. The crimes he is alleged to have committed, along
with those he was found guilty of so many years ago, are pretty tawdry
in nature.

Almost 20 years ago, a much younger Ibori and his then girlfriend
Theresa Nkoyo Nakanda were found guilty and fined for theft. Ibori was
working as a cashier at Wickes Store in Ruislip,

London
and had allowed his girlfriend to leave with goods without paying for
them. The penalty was a fine of 300 pounds and costs of 450 pounds.
Seventeen years later Theresa, who had become Mrs. Ibori, was arrested
on November 1, 2007 at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of money
laundering.

It
was this angle that prompted the next conversation about the former
governor of Delta. Also charged with Mr. Ibori, in a case of money
laundering that began hearing at the Southwark Crown Court in London
are Bimpe Pogoson, Ibori’s former personal assistant on confidential
matters; Christie Ibori-Ibie, his sister, and Udoamaka Onuigbo
variously described as associate and girlfriend, and a lawyer Bhadresh
Gohil.

Ms.
Ibori-Ibie and Ms. Onuigbo were accused of “being a party to an
inflated price fraud in respect of the contract for the building of a
sports track for the Delta State government, as well as participating
in “the provision of an inflated invoice fraud in respect of the supply
of vehicles to the Delta State government.” Mr. Ibori had, until that
ill advised trip to Dubai, avoided a second encounter at the hands of
British justice and was able to follow from afar, the course of the
trials of his wife, associate cum former girlfriend and sister. That is
a fearsome number of women to leave carrying the can for actions that
you were in the primary position to spearhead as Delta State chief
executive.

But
that is not the end of the story. While the Mesdames were facing the
music in Southwark, Mr. Ibori was also frequently seen here in the
company of (at least) ‘a’ female. There is nothing illegal or
unNigerian about that. It is just that as a beloved Aunt of mine used
to say, in the sometimes rough and tumble world of male -female
relationships, you must leave cussing room.

It promises to be an interesting ride from now on, what with all the
possibilities for turning state witness and negotiating settlements.
Stay tuned!