Ibori’s Brother-In-Law Sentenced To Two Year And A Half Years For Money Laundering

Rowland Nakanda, a Nigerian national, had
previously been found guilty of two counts of
money laundering following a month-long trial at
Southwark Crown Court and was sentenced on Friday, 24 July.

The investigation into Nakanda commenced during the
wider inquiry into the corrupt activities of the former
governor of Delta State in Nigeria, James Ibori, between
1999 and 2007.
Nakanda, 54 (29.01.61) of Tyne Gardens, South Ockendon
in Essex is the older brother of Teresa Ibori, James Ibori’s
wife. James and Teresa Ibori were convicted of fraud and
money laundering in 2012 and were sentenced to a total of
18 years’ imprisonment for corruption.
Following the conviction of the Iboris, the Nakandas became
guardians of the Ibori’s three children. Police identified that
the Ibori children, despite their parents’ convictions, were
being educated at a private school and it was established
that Nakanda had continued to pay the considerable school
fees. Enquiries revealed that he had paid the fees to the
school’s bank account in cash over the counter through his
local Lloyd’s bank in Grays, Essex.
CCTV revealed that on one day alone, Nakanda paid over
£15,000 in cash for the school fees of two of the children.
A financial investigation was able to trace £350,000 in
unexplained cash deposits going through Nakanda’s
accounts following the convictions of the Iboris.
The investigation was undertaken by the Met’s Proceeds of
Corruption Unit, which has now transferred to the National
Crime Agency (NCA) to become the International Corruption
Unit.
Rupert Broad, formerly a Detective Inspector in the Met’s
Proceeds of Corruption Unit, said: “Rowland Nakanda
previously worked for the Royal Mail and lived a modest
lifestyle with his wife in Essex. I am pleased that we were
able to demonstrate that Nakanda knew that the money he
was dealing with was the proceeds of criminal conduct and
had originated from James Ibori’s corrupt activity during his
governorship of Delta State. This sentence should act as a
warning that we will go after everyone involved in
fraudulent activity, however complex and wide-reaching the
fraud."
A total of nine individuals have now been convicted of
money laundering offences in linked cases, and have
received sentences totalling over 50 years.
Nakanda was acquitted of cheating the Revenue.
Rowland Nakanda’s wife, Chifu Nakanda, was acquitted of
all charges.

Source: LONDON METS