James Ibori: Preliminary hearing holds in June 2011

James Ibori: Preliminary hearing holds in June 2011
Uche Iheanacho, Abuja

The Preliminary hearing scheduled for last Thursday at 10.am London time, for the multiple count trial of former Delta State Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, has been deferred at the request of the prosecution.

Ibori is facing a 25-count-charge of fraud, forgery, money laundering, etc.

It was gathered that Chief Ibori did not make it to court on Thursday, but was part of the proceedings via video conferencing from where he is being held.

The trial Judge of the Southwark Crown Court House, Christopher Harding, subsequently, granted the application of the prosecution and set another preliminary hearing for June 24, 2011.

James Ibori, one of Nigeria’s most influential politicians is alleged to have embezzled more than 200 million dollars of state funds during his tenure as Governor of oil-rich Delta State in Nigeria between 1999 and 2007.

Williams