Delta Forfeits Unclaimed $15m Ibori’s Bribe To Federal Government

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Friday, October 25th, 2013

The African Examiner

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that the $15 million bribe allegedly offered as bribe to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC by former governor of Delta state James Ibori be forfeited to the Federal Government.

Convicted Ex Delta Gov James Ibori,

Mr James Ibori who is now serving a jail term in UK allegedly stole the money and offered it as bribe to the EFCC.

In court on Friday Delta state had argued that the money was taken by from its coffers by the former governor and that the money should be awarded to the state.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole however ruled that the federal government should keep the loot since Ibori himself had disputed the bribe money and that Delta state also failed to proof that money was withdrawn from its treasury.

“The applicant’s application to make a final forfeiture order succeeds and the said sum of $15 million dollars is hereby forfeited to the first applicant that is the federal government who shall take steps to capture in its earnings of the Federal Government of Nigeria in its 2012/2013 fiscal year and shall administer the funds to address specific needs that will be beneficial to a greater number of the citizenry”. Justice Kolawole ordered.

He further held that the money is qualified to be forfeited to the Federal Government as fund derived from unlawful act as stipulated under the Money Laundering and EFCC Acts 2004.