I Am Not A Thief - Ex-Convict James Ibori

Former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, who was convicted of money laundering in the United Kingdom, has said that he was not a thief.

Ibori who spoke at a thanksgiving service organised in his honour by the people of Oghara Kingdom at the First Baptist Church , Oghara in Delta State said:

 "Today, I have decided to speak for myself , I am not a thief. I cannot be a thief. Today is the day they say I should give testimony to God. For those that know me, you know that my entire life is a testimony itself and I have said it over and over again that my life is fashioned by God , directed by God, sealed, acknowledged and blessed by God and I believe that since the day I was born.

Speaking further, Ibori said, "Like Archbishop Avwomakpa said, when this whole commotion started, what was most painful to me was the pain and suffering that my people were going through . What I went through has nothing to do with me as a person because for some reasons, like I said to you, I drew my strength from God and somehow, I knew that God would stand by me.

“I knew that one day, this day would come. I am indeed very pleased that I can now stand before you and look at your faces, faces that I have missed and those of you that have indeed suffered the pains of my absence . It has nothing to do with me," Ibori added.