The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday 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 bribe forfeiture hearings of a former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori.
At the resumed hearing of the case, counsel 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.
Jacobs stated: “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 averred that when seen from the point of view of the order by Justice Kolawole asking interested parties 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 the 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.
Ajuyah said: “That is not what the court is interested in.
“We (Delta State), it is our own and we know how to manage it.”
The case has been adjourned to November 23, 2012 for ruling on the application.
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