A court in the UK is set to order the seizure of more than £100 million ($129 million) from former Delta State Governor James Ibori.
In 2011, the 63-year-old former governor was extradited to London from Dubai after fleeing Nigeria. The following year, Ibori admitted to 10 charges of fraud and money laundering and was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
The British authorities indicted him for stealing public funds and laundering them through UK banks and properties with the trial on confiscation proceedings against Ibori beginning in February 2017.
According to reports, Judge David Tomlinson of Southwark Crown Court has made factual findings regarding the amount of money linked to the former governor.
The prosecution and the defence, during a hearing on Thursday, presented their arguments on how the confiscation figure should be calculated based on the judge’s findings.
The judge is expected to conclude and issue an order on Friday or shortly afterwards.
Meanwhile, Ibori was released from prison on December 21, 2016 upon a court order, Channels Television reports.
The judge, Mrs Juliet May, ordered the immediate release of Ibori, a judgement Ibori’s spokesman, Mr Tony Eluemunor, described as a major victory against the British Home Office, at the Royal Court of Justice, Queens Court 1, London.
Counsel to the Home Office wanted Ibori to remain in detention after he had served his jail term. But the Crown Prosecution lawyer, Sian Davies, did not object to Ibori’s release and return to Nigeria.
