James Ibori faces the risk of a £100m seizure and a fresh 10-year jail term in the UK.

In a significant development, a court in the UK is poised to order the seizure of over £100 million ($129 million) from James Ibori, the former Governor of Delta State, Nigeria. This follows his return to Nigeria after serving time in prison for money laundering and fraud charges. The British authorities had indicted Ibori for embezzling public funds and channeling them through UK banks and properties, leading to a trial on confiscation proceedings that began in February 2017.

Confiscation Proceedings and Court Findings:

Judge David Tomlinson of Southwark Crown Court has made factual findings regarding the amount of money linked to Ibori. During a recent hearing, both the prosecution and the defense presented their arguments on how the confiscation figure should be calculated based on the judge's findings. Notably, Ibori did not attend the hearing, having returned to Nigeria in 2017 after serving half of his sentence.

Prosecution's Stance and Potential Consequences:

During the hearing, the prosecution lawyer, Jonathan Kinnear, asserted that £101.5 million should be confiscated from Ibori. Should he fail to pay this amount, he could face an additional prison term ranging from five to ten years. The judge is expected to conclude the proceedings and issue an order shortly.

Ibori's Past and Release:

In 2011, the 63-year-old former governor was extradited from Dubai to London after fleeing Nigeria. The following year, he admitted to ten charges of fraud and money laundering, resulting in a 13-year prison sentence. However, he was released from prison on December 21, 2016, following a court order.

Controversial Release and Return to Nigeria:

The judge who ordered Ibori's immediate release, Mrs. Juliet May, faced opposition from the Home Office, which sought to keep him in detention after he completed his jail term. However, the Crown Prosecution lawyer, Sian Davies, did not object to Ibori's release and his subsequent return to Nigeria.

Conclusion:

As the court nears a decision on the substantial seizure of funds from James Ibori, the former Delta State Governor faces the possibility of a prolonged jail term if he fails to comply with the order. This case stands as a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice against corruption and embezzlement of public funds, resonating both in the UK and Nigeria.

Writer: Kelvin Ako