LONDON — A British police detective, yesterday, told a London court that former Delta State governor, Mr. James Ibori, who is serving a jail term in UK, allegedly used frontmen and companies to acquire a hidden stake in some privatised Nigerian companies.

Detective Constable Peter Clark also said Ibori had bought two apartments in Washington in 2001 worth a total of $4.43 million, previously unknown assets to add to a list of six other Ibori property in four countries worth $11 million.

The court was shown footage of one of the property, a palatial residence in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, complete with marble columns, crystal chandeliers and a private gym.

Ibori, who was governor from 1999 to 2007, was jailed for 13 years in Britain last year after pleading guilty to 10 counts of money laundering and fraud.

A three-week confiscation hearing began at London’s Southwark Crown Court on Monday during which prosecutors will present evidence of Ibori’s assets and seek court orders to have them seized.

“It is my belief that James Ibori has some sort of hidden interest in a fertiliser company, Notore,” Clark said.

A spokesman for Notore, who was present in court on Wednesday denied that Ibori had hidden assets in the firm.

“He does not own shares in the company and no other shareholder or shareholders hold shares for him in trust so far as the company is aware,” the spokesman told Reuters, asking not to be named.

Clark told the court that police had seized five files labeled National Fertiliser Company of Nigeria, NAFCON, that linked Ibori to Notore at the office of London lawyer Bhadresh Gohil, who is serving a ten-year jail term for his role in laundering Ibori’s millions.

Gohil had incorporated a company in Mauritius under the name Notore Chemical Industries Mauritius Ltd, which Clark said appeared to be a company that would own part of Notore, Clark said.

Gohil had written in 2005 to Jite Okoloko, now chief executive of Notore, asking him to “confirm your instructions” regarding NAFCON and giving bank coordinates for transfers.