Former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori’s lawyer, Mr. Bhadresh Gohil, has been arrested and charged in London for money laundering.

The specifics of the charges against Gohil are:

•That between on March 1, 2005 and on February 1 2007 he conspired together with James Ibori, Theresa Ibori, Udoamaka Okoronkwo and others to commit an offence of money laundering, contrary to section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, by concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property from England and Wales, knowing or suspecting that the said criminal property constituted another’s benefit from criminal property, or represented such a benefit, in whole or in part and whether directly or indirectly contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977.

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• That between March 1, 2005 and on February 1, 2007 he entered into or became concerned in an arrangement which he knew or suspected facilitated the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property by or on behalf of another, he knowing or suspecting that the said criminal property constituted another's benefit from criminal conduct, or represented such a benefit, in whole or in part, and whether directly or indirectly, contrary to section 328 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

* That between on March 1, 2005 and on September 14, 2008 he conspired together with James Ibori, Theresa Ibori, Udoamaka Okoronkwo and others to commit a money laundering offence, contrary to section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, by concealing, disguising, converting, transferring, or removing criminal property from England and Wales, knowing or suspecting that the said criminal property constituted another's benefit from criminal conduct, or represented such a benefit in whole or in part and whether directly or indirectly, contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977.

•That between March 1, 2005 and on 24th September 24, 2008 he entered into or became concerned in an arrangement which he knew or suspected facilitated the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property by or on behalf of another, he knowing or suspecting that the said criminal property constituted another's benefit from criminal conduct, or represented such a benefit in whole or in part and whether directly or indirectly, contrary to section 328 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Mr. Gohil, who works at Arlingtons Sharmas, a law firm in London according to our sources in London, was arrested for helping the former governor of Delta State to launder money and breaking Proceeds of Crime Act of the UK between 2005 and 2008.

The UK Proceeds of Crime Act, among others, makes provision for confiscation orders in relation to persons who benefit from criminal conduct and for restraint orders to prohibit dealing with property, to allow the recovery of property, which is or represents property obtained through unlawful conduct or which is intended to be used in unlawful conduct.

The Act also makes provision about money laundering, about investigations relating to benefit from criminal conduct or to property, which is or represents property obtained through unlawful conduct or to money laundering, makes provision to give effect to overseas requests and order made where property is found or believed to be obtained through criminal conduct, and for connected purposes.

One of Mr. Gohil’s key clients, Ibori, is facing financial crime trial in Nigeria.

Ibori was arrested last year by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and arraigned before Federal High Court in Kaduna for alleged financial crime, running into billions of naira.