Nigerian Politicians Who Were Jailed Abroad 

Nigeria has raised lots of notable and influential politicians, some who are corrupt and have been involved in various illegal activities such as money laundering, fraud, and embezzlement of public funds. 

In some cases, while some of these politicians were extradited to their countries, others have been caught and jailed in foreign countries where they have committed crimes or attempted to hide their lootings. Let’s look at some Nigerian politicians who were charged and jailed abroad.

Ike Ekweremadu – Organ trafficking 

Ike Ekweremadu, a former Deputy Senate President was found guilty and charged for organ trafficking by a UK Court. He was sentenced along with his wife, Nwanneka Ekweremadu and their doctor Obinna Obeta, for arranging or facilitating a young Nigerian man’s travel into the United Kingdom in a bid to obtain his kidney for their sick daughter, Sonia who is currently going through dialysis and in need of a kidney transplant.

Ekweremadu was described by the judge as the driving force of the crime, so he bagged nine years and eight months while his wife received a lesser sentence due to her more limited involvement, having bagged four years and six months.

James Ibori – Money laundering 

James Ibori, a former Governor of Delta State having been convicted by a UK Court of money laundering was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Having fled Nigeria in 2010 while facing corruption charges, which made the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) enlist the help of the Interpol that apprehended him in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and extradited him to the UK to face several cases of massive corruption and money laundering that been built up against him.

However he served only four years out of the jail term he was served by the UK court and was released from jail in 2016.

Josephine Iyamu – Human and sex trafficking 

Josephine Iyamu, a then Edo State House of Assembly aspirant, was convicted of sex trafficking by a US court in 2018. Iyamu who was found guilty of trafficking Nigerian women into Europe and forcing them into sex work was the first British national to be convicted under the Modern Slavery Act for offences committed overseas.

Iyamu, whose jail term is currently ongoing in the UK was initially sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment. However, her sentence was later increased to 18 years.

Abidemi Rufai – identity theft 

Abidemi Rufai, special Assistant to the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison in the United States. A United States District Court in Tacoma sentenced him in 2022, having found him guilty of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

He was jailed for his attempt to steal nearly $2.4 million from the US government to get government benefits meant for helping people affected with the COVID-1P Pandemic having stolen personal identifying information of over 20,000 Americans to submit more than $2 million in claims for federally funded disaster relief benefits and fraudulent tax returns.