Residents of Asaba, Delta State, who are currently celebrating the release of their former governor, James Ibori, may have to wait till well after January 2017 before they can physically embrace their son.

According to reports, on Tuesday, a London High court had ruled that the Home Office could no longer hold the ex-governor who had served six-and-a-half-years of his 13-year jail term, as the sentence ran concurrently.

Ibori was subsequently released on Wednesday morning.

The British Home Office had made an unsuccessful attempt to prevent his release, claiming that Ibori’s assets confiscation hearing was inconclusive.

However, on Wednesday, the presiding Judge, Mrs. Justice May, who heard an emergency appeal filed by Ibori to enforce his rights, rejected the Home Office’s request to continue to detain him.

In her ruling, Justice May ordered his immediate release without conditions attached.

It was however gathered that the ex-governor has to report to the Police once a week, hence his inability to return to Nigeria immediately.

He is reported to be currently restricted to his St. John’s Wood residence.

May ordered both parties to return to court in January.

Meanwhile, Ibori has appealed his conviction for money laundering and graft.

Punch