Ghanaian banker sentenced for laundering money for Ibori

A London court has sentenced a former Goldman Sachs banker to four and a half years in prison for helping former governor of Delta State, James Ibori,  to launder money.

Elias Preko was convicted by a jury at Southwark Crown Court on Monday on two counts of money-laundering on behalf of Ibori, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.

Mr Preko, a Ghanaian national, follows Mr Ibori's wife, mistress, sister and a lawyer in being convicted by British courts for assisting the politician's corruption.

The banker, whose lawyer could not be reached for comment, had left Goldman Sachs before he committed the offences and the bank is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Judge Anthony Pitts said that Mr Preko was 'actively assisting' the Nigerian politician. 'You chose to involve yourself with him as a professional man, against the code of upstanding conduct for men in your position,' Judge Pitts said according to Reuters.

A court hearing this September where prosecutors sought to obtain a confiscation order against Mr Ibori ended inconclusively but is set to be restarted next year.

The court heard that Mr Ibori unsuccessfully tried to bribe the head of Nigeria's anti-corruption agency with $15m in cash using a bag so full of money that two people were needed to carry it.

The politician is serving 13 years in a British jail after pleading guilty last year to fraud and money laundering offences involving about £50m.