Former governor of Delta state, James Ibori has arrived in Nigeria.He arrived early on Saturday in Abuja with a British Airways flight.
Ibori who reportedly left London on Thursday after a court said he could leave the country has now touched down in Oghara.
Earlier on, he was taken in by the Department of State Security Service (DSS) for interrogation.
On leaving the DSS office after what was described as a pre arranged chat, the former governor proceeded to Benin on a chattered flight with registration number India Zulu Yanky (5NIZY). He was initially scheduled to move from Osubi, but the plan changed.
The flight, a Challenger 60, landed at Benin airport at about 2.25pm While Ibori touched down in his country home Oghara at about 3:30 pm.
Ibori arrived his country home to a warm welcome by friends and family.
Ibori was released from British prison in December after serving half of his 13-year sentence, taking into account pre-trial detention.
He was jailed for money laundering, an offence for which his wife, lawyer and some close relations were also jailed for.
In several interviews, Ibori did not rule out a future role in politics.
“What happens in African politics – you are in it until you die,” Ibori told Reuters in London on Tuesday.
“I am a politician, I will always be a politician. I play the politics in my party and in my country for the good of my people,” he said after a court hearing, part of ongoing legal proceedings in his case.
Asked if he would run for office again, Ibori said he was barred from doing so for 10 years because of his conviction, but that he intended to appeal to have that conviction overturned.
The appeal would center on an allegation, made by one of Ibori’s former associates,that a British police officer had taken bribes in return for inside information on the case before Ibori’s conviction, and that prosecutors had covered it up.
British police say the allegation was investigated, resulting in no arrests or charges.
The state prosecution service says material supporting the allegation exists and it initially failed to disclose that to Ibori’s defence team, but it is confident Ibori’s conviction remains valid. Court proceedings are ongoing.
