Delta government may appeal ruling on Ibori's $15m bribe money

The Delta State Government may appeal the ruling of the Federal High Court on the $15 million bribe allegedly offered Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to stop the prosecution of former Governor, James Ibori.

The indication was given by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chike Ogeah, on Saturday

Ogeah, who spoke in Asaba, the state's capital,  said that the government was still studying the judgment and would make its position known once it got a certified true copy of the judgment.

He said he was in touch with the state's Attorney General, adding that the State would seek to find how the trial judge arrived at his decision of giving the money, which he insisted, was 'unclaimed property' to the federal government.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Friday ruled that the recovered sum should go to the federal government and not the Delta State government, which had fought to secure its custody and ownership.

The court said the state failed to prove that the money belonged to it, since Ibori,who is currently serving jail term in UK prison had denied having anything to do with the $15 millions (over N2 billion).

Ogeah said that since there is the option of appeal, the government could take such option.

He said, 'We have not read the judgment yet. The option of appeal is there, but first, we have to read the judgment to know how the judge arrived at the decision, both in facts and law.

We will write for the enrolment of the judgment; we will demand for a certified true copy of the judgment once it has been enrolled.'

The commissioner lamented the outcome of the judgment, saying Delta intended to use the money on human capital development and numerous infrastructural projects across the state.