UK court rejects Ibori's appeal to cut £101.5m confiscation order
Stock image: Zde / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Britain's Court of Appeal has dismissed a challenge by former Delta State governor James Ibori to reduce a £101.5 million confiscation order against him, according to reports.
The ruling
The court rejected the appeal on Tuesday, 3 November 2026. Ibori had sought to reduce the amount by about £4.3 million. The order was issued by Southwark Crown Court in July 2023, directing him to pay or face an eight-year prison term in default. The appeal had delayed enforcement, which can now proceed unless he takes the case to the UK Supreme Court.
Ibori's response
Ibori reportedly said he was consulting his lawyers on his next steps and expressed frustration at how long the proceedings had taken.
Background
Ibori governed Delta State from 1999 to 2007. He was arrested in Dubai and extradited to Britain in 2011. In 2012 he pleaded guilty in a London court to laundering tens of millions of dollars of public funds through British banks and properties, and was sentenced to 13 years in prison. He was released in late 2016 after serving about half of the sentence and returned to Nigeria in 2017. The confiscation proceedings followed investigations by Nigerian and British anti-corruption authorities, and Nigeria has pushed for the recovered funds to be returned.
Why it matters
The case is one of the most significant examples of international cooperation to recover stolen public funds from Nigeria.
The order is for £101.5 million.
Ibori wanted it reduced by about £4.3 million.
He says he is consulting his lawyers.
More gist
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Four Nigerian-Americans reportedly won state and local races in the US midterms, including Will Jawando as Montgomery County executive in Maryland and Onitsha-born Junior Ezeonu in the Texas House. A fifth, Georgia's Segun Adeyina, was leading in an uncalled race.
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Nigerian-Americans have recorded a string of wins in the United States midterm elections held on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, according to reports.
Who won
Four Nigerian-Americans reportedly won state and local offices in Maryland, Texas, Washington DC and Pennsylvania. In Maryland, Democrat Will Jawando, whose father is Nigerian, defeated Republican Esther Wells to become Montgomery County executive, winning about 78 per cent of the vote with most ballots counted. He previously served on the Montgomery County Council. In Texas, 27-year-old Democrat Junior Ezeonu won the District 101 seat in the state House of Representatives. Born in Onitsha, Anambra State, he moved to Texas at the age of two, was elected to the Grand Prairie City Council in 2021 and became the city's youngest mayor pro tempore. He had defeated the incumbent in the Democratic primary and faced no Republican opponent. In Washington DC, Democrat Oye Owolewa won an at-large seat on the District of Columbia Council.
Still counting
A fifth Nigerian-American, Georgia state Representative Segun Adeyina, was reportedly leading in his race, which had not yet been called.
Background
The wins came on a night when Democrats were projected to take control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Nigerian-Americans are one of the most highly educated immigrant groups in the United States, and a growing number have entered politics at local, state and national level in recent years.
How people reacted
Many Nigerians at home and abroad celebrated the results online, describing them as a proud moment for the diaspora.
World & West
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Abdul El-Sayed has reportedly become the first Muslim US senator after winning in Michigan, Keisha Lance Bottoms is the first Black woman elected governor of a US state, and Gina Hinojosa is set to be Texas's first Latina governor after defeating Greg Abbott.
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The 2026 US midterm elections produced several historic firsts, according to results and projections reported on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.
First Muslim senator
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed reportedly defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan's Senate race, becoming the first Muslim member of the US Senate. A former Detroit health director, he ran on a progressive platform including Medicare for All and higher taxes on billionaires, and won the seat left by retiring Democrat Gary Peters. His campaign survived a bitter contest in which a Democratic rival he beat in the primary endorsed his Republican opponent.
First Black woman governor
In Georgia, former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, 56, defeated Republican businessman Rick Jackson, becoming the first Black woman elected governor of any US state and Georgia's first female governor. Her victory reportedly ends 24 years of Republican control of the office. Atlanta-born Nigerian singer Davido shared the news on his Instagram Story.
Texas turns blue
In Texas, Democrat Gina Hinojosa reportedly defeated Republican governor Greg Abbott, who was seeking a fourth term, by about 53.5 per cent to 46.5 per cent. When she takes office in January 2027, the 52-year-old will be the state's first Latina governor and its first Democratic governor since Ann Richards left office in 1995.
More firsts
In New Hampshire, Democratic congressman Chris Pappas, 46, defeated former Republican senator John E. Sununu to become the first openly gay man elected to the US Senate, keeping the seat of retiring Democrat Jeanne Shaheen. In New Mexico, Democrat Deb Haaland, a member of Laguna Pueblo and a former US interior secretary, won the governorship, becoming the first Native American woman elected governor of a US state.
Kansas breaks a long streak
In Kansas, Democrat Adam Hamilton, a pastor who leads the largest United Methodist church in the country, reportedly defeated Republican senator Roger Marshall, becoming the first Democrat elected to the US Senate from the state since 1932. He ran as a moderate and won endorsements from some prominent Kansas Republicans.
Background
The results came as Democrats were projected to win control of both the House and the Senate, in what many analysts described as a rebuke of President Donald Trump's second-term agenda amid concern over the economy, tariffs and the conflict with Iran.
SportReported
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Nigeria's Flamingos have reached the final of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup for the first time after beating Brazil 3-1 in the semi-final. Awawu Bashiru scored twice and Queen Joseph once. They face Japan in the final.
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Nigeria's under-17 women's team, the Flamingos, have made history by reaching the final of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup for the first time.
The match
The Flamingos beat Brazil 3-1 in the semi-final on Wednesday night, 4 November 2026, according to reports. Queen Joseph opened the scoring in the 56th minute, and Awawu Bashiru doubled the lead in the 71st minute before adding her second goal in the 80th minute to put the game beyond Brazil's reach.
A record run
The win beats the team's previous best performance, a bronze medal at the 2022 edition of the tournament. On the way to the semi-final, the Flamingos beat Venezuela in the quarter-finals, a result that earned praise from the Confederation of African Football.
The final
The Flamingos will now face Japan in the final as they chase Nigeria's first FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup title. Japan, one of the strongest sides in women's youth football, won the tournament in 2014.
Background
The result comes at a difficult time for Nigerian women's football at senior level. The Super Falcons failed to qualify for the Women's World Cup for the first time, and no Nigerian player was shortlisted for this year's CAF Women's Player of the Year award. The Flamingos' success has been welcomed as a sign that a new generation of players is coming through.
How people reacted
Nigerians celebrated the win across social media, praising the young players and their coaches and urging the government and the football federation to support them ahead of the final.
PoliticsReported
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The National Judicial Council has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay and cautioned eight others over misconduct, including unlawful detention of litigants. One judge was also barred from promotion for three years.
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The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay over misconduct, according to reports on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.
The decisions
The decisions were taken at the council's 112th meeting on 3 November, chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. The council also issued cautions to eight others and approved warning letters to three judges following investigations into petitions about their conduct. The offences included unlawful detention of litigants, abuse of judicial authority and breaches of due process.
Who was suspended
Those suspended were reportedly Justice Hannatu Mohammed Kabir of the Nasarawa State High Court, Grand Kadi Mohammed Sani Salihu of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal and Justice Sobere Biambo of the Rivers State High Court. The council said Justice Kabir ordered the arrest and detention of a litigant for 58 days over alleged disobedience of a court order without following proper contempt procedures, and barred her from consideration for promotion for three years. Grand Kadi Salihu was suspended over his role in reopening a judgment already delivered by an FCT Upper Area Court.
Background
The NJC is the body responsible for disciplining judges in Nigeria. Public trust in the judiciary has been a recurring concern, particularly over election cases and conflicting court orders. Civil society groups have repeatedly called on the council to act firmly against judicial misconduct ahead of the 2027 elections, when courts are expected to handle many disputes.
Why it matters
Observers say the decisions send a signal that judges will be held accountable for abusing their powers.
