Again London Court Adjourns In Ibori Suit

CHIEF JAMES IBORI.

London (THEWILL) - The Judge Christopher Hardy Southwark Crown Court has again adjourned hearing in the money laundering trial of three women, Christine Ibori-Ibie, Bimpe Pogoson and Udoamaka Okoronkwo Onuigbo, all associates of former Delta governor, Chief James Ibori.

Court proceedings were expected to have resumed today, November 24, 2009, after the judge had granted an adjournment two weeks ago, to allow the trial judge in another related matter in Asaba, Delta State, determine whether there is enough evidence to prosecute the governor and other defendants.

It is assumed that if the Asaba charges are dismissed, the London prosecution may find it difficult to prosecute its case against the women it is seeking to convict.

Unfortunately, the Asaba court could not sit on Monday as anticipated because of a scheduled conference of Federal High Court Judges which held in Ilorin same day, December 23, 2009.

Sources say Judge Hardy met with the prosecution and defence attorneys in his chambers on Monday, December 23, 2009 and adjourned hearing to February 16, 2010, thereby giving the Justice Marcel Awokulehin Asaba court enough room to make its ruling.

The Asaba case is expected to resume on December 4, 2009.