High-ranking Nigerian officials have embezzled public monies and committed fraud. Corrupt Nigerian politicians were imprisoned.
Despite the penalties, these high-profile cases have illuminated the issue and the country’s efforts to combat corruption, highlighting Nigeria’s ongoing fight for openness, accountability, and good governance. We’ll review some famous Nigerian politicians who were imprisoned for corruption.
Uzor Kalu
Nigerian politician Orji Uzor Kalu was imprisoned for corruption. He was Governor of Abia State and Senate Chief Whip while representing Abia North Senatorial District.
Uzor Kalu was found guilty of diverting public funds through a complicated network of fraudulent contract procurement, financial record manipulation, and illicit transfers. The Lagos Division of the Federal High Court sentenced Kalu to 12 years in jail for N7.65 billion fraud in 2019. Slok Nigeria Ltd, his corporation, was convicted of defrauding Abia State, where he was governor for eight years.
In May 2020, the Supreme Court of Nigeria acquitted him and ordered a retrial. Kalu left the Nigerian Correctional Service Kuje in June 2020 after trying again.
James Ibori
Former Delta State governor James Onanefe Ibori was accused of stealing US$250 million from Nigeria in 2012. Sue Patten, head of the Crown Prosecution Service central fraud group, said it will try to seize Ibori’s assets after sentencing.
At Southwark Crown Court, England, Ibori admitted to 10 counts of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud. Court order freed Ibori in December 2016. He served 4 of his 13-year sentence.
Olabode George
Olabode George and four others were arraigned on a 163-count allegation of conspiracy, disobedience to lawful order, abuse of power, and alleged improper award of N84 billion in contracts as chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
Bode George was convicted and sentenced to 30 months in 2009, and 47 of 68 counts were found guilty, totalling 28 years. In 2013, the Supreme Court overturned Bode George’s conviction because the EFCC had no evidence that George planned to commit fraud at the NPA and “contract splitting” was unheard of.
Josh Dariye
In 2018, Joshua Chibi Dariye was sentenced to 14 years in jail for criminal breach of trust and theft of funds while governor of Plateau State. In 2004, he was arrested in London for stealing $9m from the public and laundering it.
In 2007, EFCC found 23 money laundering charges against Dariye for allegedly diverting N1.126 billion Plateau State Government ecological monies. 2018 reduced his sentence to 10 years.
Bala Ngilari,
James Bala Ngilari was convicted of giving a contract for 25 vehicles for 167 million Naira ($548,891) without due procedure. The former Adamawa governor was found guilty of five of the 17 EFCC counts against him in September 2016 and sentenced to five years without a fine.
He was acquitted before serving his time.
