London: Ibori's Financial Advisor Preko Acquitted

Source: thewillnigeria.com
Click for Full Image Size
FORMER DELTA STATE GOVERNOR, CHIEF JAMES IBORI

SAN FRANCISCO, April 13, (THEWILL) – Chief James Ibori’s financial advisor, Mr. Elias Nimho Preko is a free man after a London jury Friday found him not guilty on 3 charges bordering on forgery and money laundering


The jury was however hung on 2 other counts of money laundering brought against him by the Crown Prosecution.


Recall that Preko was charged alongside former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori but Ibori shockingly pleaded guilty to 10 select charges citing mounting legal bills incurred defending the charges against him.


But the Crown Prosecution pressed ahead charging Preko on 5 counts bordering on money laundering and forgery. After a few weeks of a keenly contested trial, he was acquitted on 3 counts and the jury was hung on 2.


After the jury’s verdict inside the Southwark Crown Court, a frustrated Crown Prosecution had immediately moved for a retrial on the 2-counts the jury failed to agree on but the judge blocked their request and directed that they give it some more thoughts and thereafter adjourned to Wednesday April 17, 2012.


Preko was represented by Oba Nsugne, QC.

The court will reconvene on April 16, 2012, for Ibori’s sentencing.


The Charges Against Preko Are As Follows;