$15m Bribe: Court to Hear Delta Application July 10

Tobi Soniyi

A Federal High Court in Abuja will  on July 10 hear  an application by the Delta State Government on  the $15million bribe allegedly offered former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, by  a former governor of the state, Chief James Ibori,  to be paid to the state.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole fixed the date yesterday, following a recent ruling by the Court of Appeal, Abuja, striking out an application by a Lagos-based refrigerator repairer, Olalekan Bayode, seeking to halt further hearing in the suit pending the hearing of his appeal.

When the case was called Monday, parties were set to argue the application by Delta State, but the court said it was inconvenient in view of its tight schedule and directed them to agree on a new date.

The federal government had applied to the court for an order of forfeiture and to direct the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), where Ribadu had lodged the bribe money he refused, to release it to the government should no one showed up to claim it.

Delta State later intervened, claiming ownership of the money because Ibori, being its governor when the  money was offered, must have taken the money from the state's coffers.

Before the state's application could be heard, Bayode applied that he should be appointed as a manager to disburse the $15 million  bribe money to the indigents, especially widows and orphans through a charitable organisation.

He applied to be joined in the case and prayed that the money  be released to him.

In a ruling, Justice  Kolawole dismissed  Bayode's application for being frivolous and lacking in merit.

The judge held, among others, that Bayode failed to show sufficient ground and interest upon which the money should be released to him.

Justice Kolawole held that Bayode only claimed to be a Nigerian and refrigerator repairer based in Lagos.

The judge further held that the federal government, which instituted the case, did not ask for a manager to manage the fund, but applied that those with interest in the $15 million should indicate before an order of forfeiture was made in its favour.

Justice Kolawole described Bayode as a  busybody, meddlesome interloper and one, who was out to mock the judiciary and the serious issue at stake.

Source: http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/-15m-bribe-court-to-hear-delta-application-july-10/150724/