Pic: Theresa "Tessy" Nkoyo Ibori
The London Metropolitan Police yesterday arrested
former Delta State First Lady, Theresa Nkoyo Nakanda
Ibori, on charges of money laundering. Married to
former Governor James Ibori, the main target of an
extensive money laundering investigation by British
law enforcement, Theresa Ibori was picked up at
Heathrow Airport in London.
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A short statement released to Saharareporters by
Andrew Newman of the Metropolitan Police press office
stated: “At approximately 20.50hrs on November 1 2007
officers from the Proceeds of Corruption Unit arrested
a 39-year-old woman at Heathrow airport in connection
with an ongoing money laundering enquiry. She remains
in custody at a West London police station.”
Saharareporters learnt that Mrs. Ibori was due to fly
on a Virgin Atlantic flight (VS651) scheduled to
depart for Lagos at 2230 hrs (GMT) on Nov. 1, 2007.
Known as “Tessy” to close friends and relatives, Mrs.
Ibori, according to another source, was arrested as
she tried to escape from the UK to Nigeria. “Her
husband had asked her to return to Nigeria where he
felt it would be easier to fight their impending
prosecution on corruption charges,” said our source.
The former governor is caught in an extensive money
laundering investigation that has led to the freezing
of his worldwide assets by a British Court of Appeal.
Officers of the Metropolitan Police accosted and
arrested Theresa Ibori as she waited to board the
Virgin Atlantic flight. She was detained overnight at
a West London police station.
Theresa Ibori, who has dual British and Nigeria
citizenships, was being interrogated in connection
with her husband’s ongoing money laundering
investigations. Several other women, including former
Governor Ibori’s sisters, one of his well-known
mistresses, and a former aide, are also being targeted. A source in London told Saharareporters that Mrs. Ibori was likely to granted bail today—depending on her level of cooperation with investigators at theu003cbr />anti-fraud unit of the Metropolitan Police in London.
Metropolitan Police in London today arrested the former Delta State firstu lady, Theresa Nkoyo Nakanda Ibori for money laundering at the Heathrow Airport in London, according to statement released to Saharareporters by Andrew Newman of the Metropolitan Police press office in London. The statement stated that "At approximately 20.50hrs on November 1 2007 officers from the Proceeds of Corruption Unit arrested a 39year old woman at Heathrow airport in connection with an ongoing money laundering enquiry. She remains in custody at a West London police station." Saharareporters learnt that Theresa was due to fly Virgin Atlantic flight (VS651) to Lagos departing at 2230 hrs (GMT) on Nov 2007 "Tessy" was arrested as she tried to escape from UK to Nigeria, she was about to board a Lagos-bound Virgin Atlantic flight when she was accosted and arrested by the Metropolitan Police. Her arrest is in connection with the extensive investigations that have led to the freezing of James Iboris' worldwide assets by a London High Court. Theresa Ibori, who has a dual British-Nigeria citizenship was arrested in connection with ongoing money laundering in the investigation.
A source in London told Saharareporters that Mrs.
Ibori was likely to granted bail today—depending on
her level of cooperation with investigators at the
anti-fraud unit of the Metropolitan Police in London.
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