Scores of supporters of former Delta state governor James Ibori and some Nigerian journalists were on Monday barred from the London's Southwark Crown Court room where he was to be sentenced after pleading guilty to money laundering.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who was at the court reports that trouble started when many of Ibori's supporters, who besieged the court premises to witness the proceedings tried to force themselves into the court room.
Many of them also claimed to be journalists representing various Nigerian media.
Following the unruly situation officers from the Metropolitan police, who were deployed to control the crowd, allowed only journalists representing the British media and some members of Ibori’s family into the court room.
Meanwhile sources close to Ibori’s legal team told NAN that it was unlikely that the court would deliver its verdict as both the prosecutors and the defence team are expected to make their closing addresses.
Meanwhile some of Ibori’s supporters, who spoke to? NAN,? said they wanted him to serve his term in Nigeria.
“`Yes! We want him to be transferred to Nigeria because he did not commit the crime in the UK,’’ they said. (NAN)