Ibori Faces UK Confiscation Order
*May lose €100m (about $129m)
Former Delta state governor, James Onanefe Ibori, may have his funds conficated in the United Kingdom, UK, confiscated as a London on Thursday, ordered the seizure of more than 100 million Pounds, about $129m) still in the UK banks.
Ibori, governor of Delta state between 1999 and 2007, was extradited from Dubai to London in 2011, where he was charged with money laundering a corrupt enrichment.
He pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering charges in 2012 and was sentenced to a 13- year jail term.
The confiscation order by the court is bringing to a close attempts by prosecutors to confiscate funds said to be criminally obtained by the former Delta state governor.
Reuters report says Judge David Tomlinson of Southwark Crown Court has made factual findings regarding the funds at the court's Thursday hearing, wherein both prosecution and defense teams proferred competing arguments about how the confiscation figure should be calculated, considering the judge's findings.
The judge is expected to issue a formal and final order either Friday or shortly afterwards.
However, Ibori who returned to Nigeria in 2017 after serving his term in prison, told Reuters that he will appeal the confiscation order.
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