Appeal Court Asked To Nullify Proceedings In $15m Ibori Bribe Money

The battle over the $15m cash allegedly received by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as bribe money from the convicted former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, assumed another dimension on Friday, following a request to the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, to nullify the proceedings of the Abuja Federal High Court in the matter.

A lawyer, Mr. Timipa Okponipere, who claimed to be suing for and on behalf of the government and people of Delta State, filed the fresh application at the appellate court.

Interestingly, the Abuja FHC, presided by Justice Gladys Olotu, had on Aug. 29, 2012, struck out a suit in which Okponipere requested the refund of the money to Delta State.

Okponipere had claimed that he filed the application at the FHC “for and on behalf of the Government and people of Delta State.” But the court dismissed the suit after the Attorney General of Delta State, Chief Charles Ajuyah, SAN, who also filed a motion claiming the money for the state, denied authorising it.

Ajuyah had told the court that, as the chief law officer of Delta State, he ought to have authorised Okponipere’s suit.

However, Okponipere claimed in an affidavit tendered in support of his motion that he had earlier filed a suit claiming the money for Delta on July 27, 2012, before the Abuja FHC, pursuant to the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules 2009.

In a related development, the Congress for Progressive Change said the twist in the bribery scandal had further exposed the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

Meanwhile, Senator Andy Uba, who is currently representing Anambra South Senatorial District in the Senate, has denied any involvement in the bribe saga.