The government of the United Kingdom has began moves to confiscate about $39 million from Bhadresh Gohil, who is a lawyer to convicted former governor of Delta State, James Ibori.
He was one of Ibori’s lawyers in his multi-billion naira trial in 2011. He was tried in London for money laundering.
In 2012, Ibori was convicted by a UK court and sentenced to 13 years in prison after he was found guilty of stealing public funds valued at about $250 million belonging to the Delta State government during his tenure as governor.
He was governor for two terms from 1999 and 2007, and was accused of stealing the funds in the V-Mobile shares deal he brokered with the Akwa Ibom State government.
A Reuters report said British prosecutors have opened a legal process to attempt to confiscate about £30.8 million (about $39.3 million) from Gohil who was reportedly a willing conduit in the theft of public funds.
He was convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in 2010 on a 13 counts charge for money-laundering and related offences associated with his role in the crime.
