A UK court is now set to rule on the confiscation of over 100 million pounds ($129 million) linked to Nigerian politician and former Governor of Delta state, James Ibori.
Ibori who served as Governor of Delta State between 1999 to 2007 was sentenced to 13 years in prison after being convicted of fraud and money laundering in 2013. He ended his jail term in 2016 and returned to Nigeria the following year.
Reuters has now reported that British prosecutors have approached a court to confiscate £101.5 million traced to Ibori. It was gathered that Judge David Tomlinson of Southwark Crown Court has made factual findings regarding the funds.
At a hearing on Thursday, July 20, both sides made competing arguments about how the confiscation figure should be calculated, taking into account the judge’s findings. He is expected to finalise and formally issue his order on Friday, July 21, or shortly afterwards.
Lead prosecution counsel Jonathan Kinnear told the court that the total amount that should be confiscated from Ibori was 101.5 million pounds and that if he does not pay up, he should be sentenced to between five and 10 years in prison.
A judgment on the case will put an end to over 10 years of legal disputes regarding the attempt to confiscate the funds.
Ibori who did not attend Thursday’s hearing, told the publication by text message that he plans to appeal against the confiscation order.