CECILIA IBRU SIGHTED IN LONDON
SONS THROW LAVISH PARTY FOR HER FREEDOM
Coming on the heels of our earlier report that convicted former MD/CEO of Oceanic Bank, Plc, Mrs. Cecelia Ibru was recently sighted at the American Embassy on Walter Carrington crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos, a developing twist on her whereabouts has emerged.
it was gathered from authoritative sources that Mrs. Ibru is currently holed in London, UK, where she is recuperating and savouring the air of her reported freedom having supposedly completed her six-month jail sentence.
Although, Mrs. Ibru didn’t do her term within the Prisons, rather she was hospitalized at a prestigious hospital at Idowu Martins, Victoria Island before approaching the court in October, 2010 for a transfer to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, Lagos to enable her seek better medical attention.
It was revealed that Cecelia Ibru, who is reported to be suffering from cardiac-related ailment, was therefore moved to LUTH last November.
It is believed that her visit to the American Embassy, as reported, was in anticipation of her freedom.
Sources claimed that the ailing, but discredited matriarch of the fabulously rich Ibru dynasty, as at the time of sighting her, was upbeat and showed sign of better recovery from the trauma of her sad experience.
Our source claimed that Cecilia Ibru is currently enjoying her new lease of life at her expensive mansion located in St. John’s Wood in north-west London. It was said that her two sons, Obaro and Oboden, who had held executive positions in Oceanic Bank Plc before the axe fell on their mother, were seen out and about with her. There is evidence that the family may have put the experience behind them and back to their grandiose displays of wealth and exotic lifestyle.
Part of the information scooped by First Weekly also revealed that her charming and extravagant son, Obaro was seen partying in obvious celebration of her mother’s ‘pyrrhic victory’, at least as a freed e x-convict.
A privilege source claimed that the Ibrus’ London mansion is estimated to worth several million of pounds and highly regarded as an urbane neighbourhood for the rich and jet-set in London.
Few other Nigerians who own properties in the gated community include indicted former MD of Bank PHB, Mr. Francis Atuche, whose house is located on 59 Avenue Close, Avenue road, billionaire businessman, Terry Wayas and troubled former governor of Delta State, James, whose apartment located on Abbey Road, all in St. John’s Wood may have been confiscated for money laundering offences.
It will be recalled that Cecilia Ibru, alongside five other former bank MDs were axed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for offenses, which ranged from insider abuses, infractions on rules on corporate governance, embezzlement of depositors funds and money laundering.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), therefore dragged her before the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Dan Abutu, where she eventually pleaded guilty on an abridged three-count charge. She admitted to granting $20 million and N2 billion credit facilities above her limit, as recommended by the CBN, and sentenced to six months imprisonment without any option of fine.
The initially appreciated and award-wining banker, before her conviction, entered into a plea-bargain with the EFCC in which she forfeited N191 billion assets, including 49 properties in Nigeria, United States and Dubai to the federal government-owned Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCORN).