Ibori’s bribe money: Court hears FG, Delta’s argument tomorrow

By IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI
ABUJA—The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, ordered the Federal Government and the Delta State Government to appear before it tomorrow to argue over who ought to inherit the $15 million  bribe money allegedly offered by convicted ex-Governor James Ibori in 2007.

The money was allegedly offered with a view to persuading the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to stop investigations into allegations of corruption against Ibori.

Justice Gladys Olotu fixed the date consequent upon a request by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Delta State, Chief Charles Ajuya,SAN.

Ajuya prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable him serve fresh hearing notice on the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, SAN and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

It would be recalled that Delta State had on August 13, argued that the jettisoned bribe money legitimately belongs to it, even as it urged the high court to issue an order, remitting the fund to the Delta State treasury.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government had on July 24, filed an ex-parte motion before the same court, wherein it sought to take possession of the money.

The FG, which disclosed that the cash was received by officers of EFCC from an undisclosed agent of the ex-governor, told the court that the commission under its then chairman, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, deposited the money into the strong room 1 of  CBN, on April 26, 2007.

It, however, noted that Ibori has since denied giving the cash to either EFCC or any of its officers.

Consequently, FG it had alongside the AGF and EFCC, who were listed in the suit as the 1st to 3rdapplicants respectively, prayed the court for “an interim order forfeiting the sum of $15, 000, 000 (Fifteen Million Dollars) being an unclaimed property in possession of Central Bank of Nigeria, to the Federal Government of Nigeria pending the publication and hearing of the motion on notice for the final forfeiture order of the said property.

As well as, “an order of this honourable court directing the publication in any National Newspaper of the interim order under relief 1 above, for anyone who is interested in the property, to appear before this honourable court to show cause within 14 days, why the final order of forfeiture should not be made in favour of Federal Government of Nigeria.”

However, Delta State, in its own application which is dated August 10, maintained that FG was bereft of the right of ownership to the money, insisting that $15m bribe money was offered when Ibori held sway as the Governor of the State.

In a 35-paragraphed affidavit attached in support of the application, Delta State maintained that the release of the money would facilitate the current developmental projects in the state.

Besides, the state, in its affidavit deposed to by one Nikiru Bridget Emakpor, a legal officer in the Delta State Ministry of Justice, noted that Ibori was a governor of the state between May 29, 1999 and May 29, 2007, the period the money in dispute was alleged offered to officers of the EFCC with a view to compromising investigation into his alleged involvement in acts of corruption.

Consequently, it argued that the $15was the exclusive property of the state and it is therefore entitled to collect same, being the bona fide owner.

According to the affidavit, “any money, asset or property recovered from Ibori rightly belonged to Delta State and same should be returned to it as it has always maintained its entitlement to any asset recovered from Ibori.”

The deponent further averred said that “any denial by Ibori in respect of the money cannot affect entitlement of the state to the amount.”