$15m Ibori Bribe Saga: EFCC Asks Court To Dismiss Intervener’s Application

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Monday, November 19, 2012 asked Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja to strike out the application by one Oyelakan Bayode seeking to be named as a party in the $15 million Ibori bribe forfeiture hearings.

At the resumed hearing of the case, counsel

l to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, said Bayode has not disclosed any interest other than merely saying he is a Nigerian citizen and a beneficial owner of the said money. "My Lord, that is a mere assertion, he is not even from Delta State but a refrigerator repairer from Lagos, residing at Alagbado in Lagos state.

" When a third party seeks to be joined in a case, he needs to show that he is an interested party in the subject matter, in this case my Lord, he has not done so." Jacobs stated.
He averred that when seen from the point of view of the order by Justice Kolawole asking interested party to come and claim ownership of the fund, the intervener applicant was merely asking to manage the fund.

The same point was echoed by Charles Ajuyah , SAN, counsel to Delta State Government who told the court to dismiss the application as the intervener's purpose was to manage the fund and not claiming ownership. "That is not what the court is interested in, we (Delta State) it is our own and we know how to manage it,"Ajuyah stated.
The case has been adjourned to Friday, November 23, 2012 for ruling on the application.