London, July 25, 2023 (PTI) – An Indian-origin lawyer, Bhadresh Gohil, who was convicted over a decade ago on charges of fraud and money laundering, has been ordered by a UK court to pay over 28 million pounds related to criminal activities. The case involves corruption linked to a Nigerian politician who was Gohil’s client.
Gohil, 58, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2010 after being found guilty of money laundering, prejudicing a money laundering investigation, and conspiracy to defraud. These charges were connected to a corruption case involving a politician in Nigeria.
The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) reported that Gohil had benefited from criminal activities amounting to 42.4 million pounds. The court determined that he has available assets of 28.2 million pounds, which he must pay as a Confiscation Order, or he will serve an additional six years in prison.
“This was one of our largest international cases and illustrates how robustly the CPS tackles international illicit finance and corruption,” stated Adrian Foster, Chief Crown Prosecutor in the CPS Proceeds of Crime Division. The CPS and the National Crime Agency (NCA) have worked diligently to uncover the full extent of corruption, leading to Confiscation Orders of over 128 million pounds, which will eventually be returned to the people of Nigeria.
Gohil’s client, James Ibori, 61, was found guilty of misusing his position as the Governor of Delta State in Nigeria to embezzle millions and lead a luxurious lifestyle. He used the stolen funds to purchase properties in London, Washington DC, and Texas, as well as luxury cars.
The court concluded Ibori’s case recently, ordering him to pay over 101 million pounds or face an additional eight years in prison. Suzanne Foster, the Branch Commander of NCA, emphasized that Ibori’s significant amount of confiscated money will be returned to the Nigerian government for reinvestment into public services.
The court proceedings revealed that Ibori laundered the proceeds of his crime through a complex scheme involving his associates, including family members. In 2012, he pleaded guilty to various charges, including money laundering, conspiracy to defraud, and making false instruments, resulting in a 13-year prison sentence.
Gohil was found to have assisted Ibori in hiding his criminal proceeds and defrauding the people of Delta State, Nigeria, through various offshore companies and bank accounts. During the confiscation proceedings, Ibori tried to deny benefiting from his crimes, but the court dismissed his claims of legitimate wealth as fabricated to hide the proceeds of crime.
After a conviction, the CPS can request the court to issue a Confiscation Order, where the judge assesses the total financial “benefit” a defendant gained from criminal activity and the value of available assets to pay the order.