A court in London on Wednesday fixed June 2013 for asset confiscation hearing in respect of the jailed former governor of Delta State, James Ibori.
Judge Anthony Pitts sitting at the Southwark Crown court, however, did not give a specific date for the hearing but agreed to a three-week trial set for next June.
Ibori was convicted and sent to 13 years in prison on April 17, after admitting to charges of money laundering.
The Europe correspondent of the News agency of Nigeria reported that prior to the hearing, the defence team is expected to make a submission by January 28, 2013 while the prosecutors would reply within two months.
Meanwhile, the lead defence counsel, Nicholas Purnell, informed the court on Wednesday that one of the multi-million dollar assets that Ibori corruptly acquired was currently the subject of a legal dispute in South Africa.
He also said there were difficulties in accessing relevant information to assist in confiscating Ibori’s ill-gotten wealth in Nigeria.
He assured the court that once there was an update on the situation, the team would be able to make their presentations and assist the prosecutors in stripping the convict of his 50 million pound ill-gotten wealth.
Ibori was absent at Wednesday’s hearing but is expected to appear in court on September 10 when the case is expected to be mentioned.
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