Ibori’s wife, Nkoyo, jailed for five years in London

THERESA Nkoyo Ibori, wife of the former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori, was yesterday convicted by the Southwark Crown Court, London.
Ibori is being detained in Dubai by the United Arab Emirate (UAE) authority, awaiting the outcome of his appeal against a court ruling, which okayed his extradition to the UK.
If Ibori loses his appeal, he will be extradited to the UK to face a set of three trials relating to money laundering and sundry misapplication of state funds between 1999 and 2007.
She was found guilty of the money laundering charges preferred against her.
Nkoyo may spend the next two to five years in prison, it was learnt yesterday.
The London jury gave its verdict after she was found guilty on two counts of money laundering.
Her husband’s United Kingdom (UK) lawyer, Mr. Bhadresh Gohil, who was also on trial with Nkoyo, has been found guilty on all counts of money laundering.
He has been remanded in police custody.
Gohil will be sentenced after the conclusion of another trial involving the laundering of proceeds of V-Mobile shares by James Ibori, Henry Imashekka, David Edevbie and former Akwa Ibom governor, Victor Attah.
The trial will start next Monday.
In a previous trial, the court had also sent to prison Ibori’s sister, Christine Ibori-Ibie; and his mistress, Udoamaka Okoronkwo-Onuigbo.