Ibori's Assets Frozen Again!
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James Ibori |
A full panel of three judges at the London High Court today restored a restraining order on the worldwide assets of James Ibori which had earlier been lifted by the Southwark Crown Court in London.
The decision of the High Court was prompted by an appeal filed by the Metropolitan Police in London challenging the decision of the Southwark Crown Court on October 1st 2007.
The High Court will start a full hearing in six weeks.
A British court had recently lifted a freeze on property worth $35 million (17 million pounds) belonging to James Ibori, former Delta state governor suspected of corruption, the court said.
The ruling was a victory for Ibori, former governor of one of Nigeria's richest states where endemic corruption means there is little locally to show for it.
Ibori's case is being closely watched in Nigeria because he is seen as one of the king makers behind President Umaru Yar'Adua, who took office in May, in a country where having friends in high places has been a reliable shield from the law.