Judge Anthony Pitts of the Southwark Crown Court adjourns confiscation hearing of Chief James Onanefe Ibori to 2016

Ibori London Case: Judge Adjourns Case to 2016 SPECIAL REPORTS

 

Judge Anthony Pitts of the Southwark Crown Court Monday 13 A adjourned the confiscation hearing of Chief James Onanefe Ibori, former Governor of Delta State till 6th June next year.  Mr. Pitts did so to allow him time attend to a case of attempt to pervert the course of justice brought against Mr. Bradresh Gohil, whose counsel  alleged in court which resumed hearing this Monday,  that a British Police Officer, Mcdonald, who is a lead investigating officer in the case involving Gohil and Ibori had been involved in collecting money for information involving Gohil and Risk Management company.

While pressing home his demand, Gohil's counsel said “there are new evidence indicating that DC Macdonald exchanged 22 telephone calls which have been traced with Risk Management at key stages of the investigation of Ibori which coincided with unexplained payment into D C  Macdonald's account”.

Judge Anthony Pitts while granting Gohil's counsel's request in the trial said “justice must not only be done but must be seen to have been done”.

This is a second abrupt ending in the Ibori confiscation case. The first ended last year, after it abruptly ended the james ibori's confiscation hearing late last year on the grounds that the Judge lacked enough evidence to arrive at a decision in the confiscation hearing.

Asking that the case be adjourned again on two grounds, Mr. Gohil's counsel, Kamlish, a Queen's Counsel said:  “Your Honour I seek to have this case adjourned on two grounds:  Gohil is not being represented at the hearing as the former counsel and solicitor have withdrawn and the second ground being that it will be improper to have a confiscation hearing before Mr. Gohil's trial. The Judge in accepting his request adjourned Mr. Gohil's trial till 16th January 2016.

This adjournment of Gohil's trial affected Ibori's confiscation hearing as the Prosecution sought an application to join Ibori's and Gohil's cases together. Ibori’s case should have lasted for just six weeks, but will now be yoked to Gohil’s which will begin next year January.