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The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, fixed September 20 to decide between the Federal Government and the Delta State government, who should inherit the $15million that was allegedly offered to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in 2007, by former Governor James Ibori.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole adjourned to deliver judgment on the matter after listening to legal arguments from the contending parties yesterday over who ought to take possession of the bribe money which had been in custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, since April 26, 2007.
The money was allegedly offered with a view to persuading the EFCC under its former chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to abort further investigations into allegations of corruption against Ibori who was a former Governor of Delta State.
Meanwhile, Ibori who held sway between 1999 and 2007, and recently sentenced by a Southwark Crown Court in London for 13 years following his alleged complicity in a $250 million fraud while in power, has since denied offering the $15m bribe to the EFCC, saying he never authorized anyone to make such offer on his behalf.
FG had alongside the Attorney General of the Federation and the EFCC, filed an application on July 24, seeking “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.”
However, Delta State, in its own application 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 was the Governor of the State.
In a 35-paragraphed affidavit attached in support of the application, Delta State argued 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, maintained that the $15 was the exclusive property of the state and it is therefore entitled to collect same, being the bona fide owner.
According to the state, “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 state which approached the court through its own Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Chief Charles Ajuyah, SAN, argued that the jettisoned bribe money legitimately belongs to it, noting that, “any denial by Ibori in respect of the money cannot affect entitlement of the state to the amount.”
The state said the reason why it did not formally apply for payment of the money was in view of pending appeals before both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, saying it did not want to prejudice the outcome of the appeal cases.
Moreover, the State claimed that all monies, assets and properties recovered from Mr. Joshua Dariye, former Governor of Plateau State were returned to the Plateau State, just like those recovered from Chief Diepreye Alamieyesigha of Bayelsa were returned to Bayelsa State.
It argued that there should be no legal basis to treat the case of Delta State any different from others, saying it is in the interest of justice that the money should be released to Delta State.
However, in a 14 paragraphed affidavit deposed by one Bello Yahaya who was one of the investigators assigned by the EFCC to investigate the criminal case against Ibori, he told the court that: “while the investigation was going on, on 25thApril, 2007, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the then Executive Chairman of the EFCC called the investigation team headed by Mr Ibrahim Lamorde the then Director of Operations, to pick up cash in the sum of USD 15, 000, 000. 00 (Fifteen Million Dollars) given to him and the Commission through an undisclosed agent of the said James Ibori.
“That upon picking up the said USD 15, 000, 000. 00 (Fifteen Million Dollars) we deposited same on 26th April, 2007 with the Central Bank of Nigeria which was duly acknowledged and signed for by one M.M El-Yallud, a staff working in strong room 1 of the CBN.
“That from the said 26th April, 2007, the money remained in the custody of the CBN till date. The issue of giving bribe was raised by me in my affidavit sworn to on 9th January 2008 in opposition to James Ibori’s bail application when he was eventually charged to court for Money Laundering Offences.
“James Ibori denied through his reply to counter affidavit dated 10thJanuary, 2008, of giving the sum of USD 15, 000, 000. 00 (Fifteen Million Dollars), to EFCC or its officials. That ever since April, 2007, no one has claimed ownership of the said sum and it has since remained unclaimed money in the strong room of the CBN.
“That the said sum if left untouched and unspent in the state it was kept in the strong room since April, 2007, may eventually be destroyed, defaced, mutilated and become useless.
“That it is in the interest of justice to, in the interim, make an order of forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria and allow publication to be made in the National Newspaper to alert any interested member of the public to come out within 14 days to show their interest, failure to which this honourable court will make an order of final forfeiture in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“That the EFCC is ready to abide by the order that this honourable court will eventually make. It is in the interest of justice to grant this application,” he added.
Adducing further reasons why the money should not be given to the state, counsel to the federal government, Mr Rotimi Jacob, SAN, alleged that Delta State government under Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan had on two occasions, wired money totaling N100million to a foreign account operated by the convicted former governor.
He told the court that the EFCC uncovered evidence showing that the whereas the first transfer of N50million was made to the Governor in 2008, the state, in 2010, made another transfer of the same amount through Access Bank, fund he said was sent to Ibori in a bid to help him wriggle out of the money laundering trial he was facing in London.
“My Lord, we are saying that if this particular money is released to Delta State, it will be sent to Ibori also. Our position is that it should be paid into the consolidated revenue for the benefit of Nigerians. That is what the law says.
“It is on record that when EFCC was investigating Ibori, the AG of Delta State, instituted a case against the EFCC stating that the Delta State account should not be investigated and that how they spent their money under Ibori should not be our concern.
“The AG even deposed an affidavit insisting that no money was lost by Delta State government. They even got a court order against EFCC saying the former governor was merely being harassed.
“My Lord, if it was true that Ibori actually stole that kind of money from the state treasury, how come that the AG of that state has not deemed it fit to institute a criminal charge against him in line with his powers under section 211 of the 1999 constitution, for siphoning such amount from the state?” Rotimi queried.
In his reply, the Delta State AG, Ajuyah, argued that the federal government had not proved that the money did not emanate from the Delta State treasury, adding “My Lord, there is no judgment of any court today saying that the $15million in question was the proceed of any crime.”
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