UK court to decide on £100 million confiscation charge linked to Ibori

A London court is poised to deliver its ruling on the £100 million confiscation charge allegedly tied to James Ibori, the former governor of Delta state.

During the Thursday hearing, the prosecution urged the court to seize £101.5 million connected to Ibori, stating that he should face jail time if uncooperative.

The prosecution and defence lawyers debated the calculation of the confiscation figure.

Judge David Tomlinson of Southwark Crown Court is expected to formally issue his order on Friday or shortly thereafter, putting an end to a decade-long legal battle over the funds.

Background:

James Ibori served as Delta state governor from 1999 to 2007.

In 2012, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison by a UK court for fraud and money laundering.

After completing his jail term in 2016, Ibori returned to Nigeria.

British prosecutors have made several attempts to confiscate assets allegedly proceeds of crime linked to Ibori.

In 2020, the UK launched a bid to seize “proceeds of loot” from £117 million worth of properties connected to Ibori.

In March 2021, the UK and Nigerian governments signed a memorandum of understanding for the repatriation of £4.2 million in loot recovered from Ibori.

The federal government received the £4.2 million loot in May 2021.