The Delta State Attorney General, Mr. Charles Ajuyah (SAN),
has cleared the air on why the state filed an application asking a federal high
court in Abuja to order that the $15 million allegedly received as bribe from
the former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori by former Chairman of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu be paid to
the Government and people of Delta State.
Mr Ajuyah who was flanked by the state Commissioner for Information, Barr Chike Ogeah told Journalists, after the weekly State Executive Council meeting at Government, Asaba that the state had the right to ask the court to order that the alleged bribe should be returned back to Delta State.
In an
affidavit he said he filed in respond to the advert in one of the national
dallies, Ajuyah asked the court to declare that, 'the $15million alleged bribe
money which has been in custody of the 3rd Respondent (Central Bank of Nigeria)
since April, 2007 is property belonging to Government of Delta State and its
people.'
He prayed the court to hold that any application or order granting the money to any other entity other than the government and people of Delta State would be improper.
The application also ask the court to order the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to hand over the sum of USA 15 million Dollars alleged former Delta State governor, Chief Chief Ibori's attempted bribe money, to Delta state.
An affidavit filed by Delta state government stated that the case of USA 15 million Dollars said to have been forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by Chief James Ibori to compromise his investigation cannot be different from Plateau and Bayelsa states where such monies recovered from their former governors, Chief Joshua Dariye and Diepreye Alamieyeseigha were returned to their respective states.
The Delta State Attorney General also told the court in the application that neither Dariye nor Alamieyeseigha was subjected to another trial (aside from the criminal charges brought against them by EFCC), before the recovered sums were returned to their respective state.
The legal luminary also told the media that the State prayed the court to order CBN to return the said sum to the coffers of Delta State government since the money lawfully belongs to the government and people of Delta State.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, also noted that the charge filed against Ibori at the trial court in Delta State was quashed on December 17, 2009.
The court had earlier ordered that the money be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government and to be finally forfeited if within 14 days after the publication of an advertorial pertaining to the interim order, no one came forward to claim ownership of the said money.
He prayed the court to hold that any application or order granting the money to any other entity other than the government and people of Delta State would be improper.
The application also ask the court to order the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to hand over the sum of USA 15 million Dollars alleged former Delta State governor, Chief Chief Ibori's attempted bribe money, to Delta state.
An affidavit filed by Delta state government stated that the case of USA 15 million Dollars said to have been forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by Chief James Ibori to compromise his investigation cannot be different from Plateau and Bayelsa states where such monies recovered from their former governors, Chief Joshua Dariye and Diepreye Alamieyeseigha were returned to their respective states.
The Delta State Attorney General also told the court in the application that neither Dariye nor Alamieyeseigha was subjected to another trial (aside from the criminal charges brought against them by EFCC), before the recovered sums were returned to their respective state.
The legal luminary also told the media that the State prayed the court to order CBN to return the said sum to the coffers of Delta State government since the money lawfully belongs to the government and people of Delta State.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, also noted that the charge filed against Ibori at the trial court in Delta State was quashed on December 17, 2009.
The court had earlier ordered that the money be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government and to be finally forfeited if within 14 days after the publication of an advertorial pertaining to the interim order, no one came forward to claim ownership of the said money.
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