A former Nigerian state governor was jailed by a British court for 13 years on Tuesday for for his part in a $250 million fraud of state funds.

James Ibori, 49, who was governor of Nigeria's oil-rich Delta State between 1999 and 2007, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court in London.

Scotland Yard says that during his two terms as governor, Ibori "systematically stole funds from the public purse, secreting them in bank accounts across the world", in a fraud worth $250 million.

In February, Ibori pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder money, five of money laundering and one of obtaining a property transfer by deception.

He also admitted conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to make false instruments, and one count of money laundering linked to a $37 million share fraud surrounding the sale of shares in Nigerian company V Mobile.