Last Updated: Apr 4, 2011

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/courts/nigerian-politician-is-freed-from-jail

DUBAI // The Nigerian vice presidential candidate and former Delta state governor, James Onanefe Ibori, was released from a Dubai prison last Thursday on humanitarian grounds because of his deteriorating health, his lawyer confirmed yesterday.

Mr Ibori, 63, who has been in custody since May last year, was ordered on December 13 to be extradited to the UK to face money laundering charges.

"He has been suffering from chest problems since his detainment and was hospitalised for one month during the course of his trial," said his lawyer, Ali Musabah.

According to Mr Musabah, in the past two weeks two requests for his release were presented to a Dubai court.

"The court agreed to his unconditional release on humanitarian grounds to allow him to receive treatment," he said.

Mr Ibori is now in his Dubai home recovering from a chest infection and liver complications, according to Mr Musabah.

Although he cannot travel because of poor health, even if he were well he could not be extradited yet, Mr Musabah said. "He currently is facing a travel ban issued by a Ras al Khaimah court, regarding a civil case."

The travel ban, issued by the RAK Civil Court, stems from a contractual property dispute being heard, Mr Musabah said. Until Mr Ibori pays a property investor, as ordered, the ban will remain in place.

The details of the case were not immediately available.

A spokesman for the Urhobo Youth Leaders Association (UYLA), which represents Mr Ibori's clan, expressed the group's appreciation to the federal Government for releasing him.

"The jubilation is high and everybody from his hometown, Ogara, has celebrated since Saturday," said Vincent Oyibide, a UYLA senior member. "We will still appeal for him to be allowed to come back to Nigeria."

The UYLA is the official association for the 14 million-strong Urhobo clan, which is mainly concentrated in Delta state, where Mr Ibori served as governor from 1999 to 2007.

According to the extradition request filed by the British government, large amounts of money were embezzled in Nigeria during Mr Ibori's term as governor. The request states that the funds were laundered in UK banks.

"One of those methods was by awarding contracts for completed projects to his close associates for large sums of money," the documents read.

British authorities also say Mr Ibori sold the Delta state's shares in telecom operator V mobile to a fraudulent firm, which funnelled the money back to him and his associates.

In October, Mr Ibori confirmed his candidacy in the 2011 Nigerian presidential elections.

According to Mr Oyibide, the presidential campaign expects a big turnout now that Mr Ibori has been released. The election is scheduled for Saturday.