Ibori to be sentenced on Tuesday

The sentencing of former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, for corruption and money laundering has been shifted till Tuesday, April 17, 2012 by Judge Anthony Pitts of the Southwark Crown Court 9, London.
Reports said there was a scuffle between court officials and suspected supporters of the former governor before Monday’s sentencing hearing began.
Court officials had attempted to sort out unruly persons among the crowd of Ibori’s supporters by asking all visitors to form a queue and write their names.
But this led to more confusion as people struggled to get their names on a list.
Uniformed policemen had to be invited to forcibly remove unruly visitors from the court.
The police allowed only 16 members of Ibori’s family and journalists to enter the court.
The hearing eventually got off to a start.
Ibori was said to have come to the court in a black suit and a matching gold watch.
The lawyers for the prosecution and the defence presented their closing arguments before the court.
Interestingly, the prosecution said there was no plea bargain and that Ibori pleaded ‘guilty’ to all the charges.
The prosecution, which said Ibori’s loot was unquantifiable, also said he violated Section 182 and Section 181 (1) of the Nigerian constitution by contesting the Delta State governorship elections in 1999 and 2003, even though he knew he had a conviction hanging over his head.
Ibori’s lawyers blamed the Nigerian military for creating the conditions that led Ibori into corruption. They also said Ibori contributed to Nigeria’s development by negotiating the release of hostages seized by Niger Delta militants during his tenure.
The court went on a recess and reconvened at 2p.m. It later adjourned till Tuesday for sentencing.
Ibori had pleaded guilty to 10 counts of fraud, money laundering and corruption put at about $250m before Judge Pitts.
He faces up to 10 years in a UK prison.
His sentencing is coming barely a few days after his accomplice and financial advisor, Ghanaian-born Elias Preko, was acquitted.
Unlike in previous times, only Ibori was named on the cause list of the court in suit number T20117192 on Monday.

More details later.