A court has ordered lawyer Bhadresh Gohil to pay more than £28 million in costs associated with criminal activity with former governor of Delta State, James Ibori.
In 2010, he was found guilty of fraud, money laundering, obstructing an investigation into money laundering, and conspiring to defraud in a case involving his client Ibori, reports Press Trust of India on Tuesday.
The 58-year-old lawyer of Indian origin was given a 10-year prison term.
The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service said at the conclusion of drawn-out confiscation proceedings at Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday that Gohil was found to have benefited to the tune of £42.4 million and that the judge determined that he has available assets of £28.2 million to pay a confiscation order or serve another six years in prison.
“This was one of our largest international cases and illustrates how robustly the CPS tackles international illicit finance and corruption,” The PTI quoted Adrian Foster, chief crown prosecutor in the CPS Proceeds of Crime Division as saying.
SEE ALSO:
Ibori knocks UK govt over plan to confiscate $129m
Tinubu hosts Donald Duke, Ibori, Igbinedion, Attah, Nnamani, other govs from 1999 in Aso Rock
“The amount that both defendants have benefited from their criminality has been highly contested, but thanks to the hard work of our dedicated team and that of the National Crime Agency, we have been able to uncover the full extent of their corruption.
“This has led to the making of Confiscation Orders of over 128 million pounds, which will ultimately result in the return of funds back to the people of Nigeria.”
Last Friday, a judge issued an order requiring Ibori to pay over £101 million ($129m) or face an additional eight years in prison.
The ex-governor said he would appeal the decision.
