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 Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) of the the Metropolitan Police in London challenging the decision of the Southwark Crown Court ruling on October 1st 2007.
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The Southwark Crown Court had lifted a restraining order placed on the former Delta State governor's asset worldwide said to be worth $60 million due to a letter secretly obtained by Ibori lawyers from the Attorney General of Nigeria, Micheal Andoakaa.
“The Court of Appeal Criminal Division on 8 October 2007 considered the application for leave to appeal against the order dismissing the Restraint Order made on 2 August 2007 prohibiting the disposal of assets made against the Respondent [Ibori] by the Crown Court at Southwark on 1 October 2007 (pursuant to section 41 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2000) and has (1) Stayed the ruling of the Court made on 1 October 2007 to discharge the Restraint Order made by His Honour Judge Goymer of the 2nd August 2007; (2) Granted leave to appeal and adjourned the hearing of the appeal to a date to be fixed; (3) Directed that a directions hearing be listed with the attendance of Counsel for the Respondent on a date to [be] fixed before the appeal hearing to be listed before a Judge of this constitution…”
The High Court will start a full hearing of the grounds of Appeal against the Southwark Crown Court ruling in six weeks.
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More to come....
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