Lagos-based refrigerator repairer, Olalekan Bayode has, as expected, seen the end of his desire to manage the disputed $15m (N2.6bn) alleged to have been paid by former governor of Delta State, James Ibori as bribe to Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, erstwhile chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bayode had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja for an order to keep and manage the money on behalf of Nigerians.
But asides dismissing his application, the court described his motion seeking to be joined as an intervener in the suit between the FG and Delta State Government in the dispute as “a gross abuse of court process.”
Trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole ruled that the applicant’s motion did not meet the conditions set out in the order of 24th July 2012 published in Thisday Newspaper.
Kolawole said that had the applicant claimed ownership of the money, he would have ordered him to appear in court to explain why he shouldn’t be committed to prison. But Bayode was smart enough not to have done that, rather seeking to “keep” the money and “distribute” to Nigerians.
The judge also condemned the “reprehensible” conduct of Bayode’s counsel, Mr. John Olufemi Aina, saying it belied his claim of practising law in England and in Nigeria. In the motion, he had asked Justice Kolawole to make an order compelling the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to release the money to him for proper management.
The judge had reserved ruling after vehement objections to the request by lawyer of the Federal Government, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) and counsel to Delta State Chief Charles Ajuyab (SAN).
The court had a heated debate over the absence of the applicant and his counsel, who wrote directly to the judge through DHC, a courier firm, pleading for adjournment of the hearing of his application on the excuse that his daughter was indisposed.
The mode of writing the letter directly to the judge instead of the court registrar, as stipulated by the law, was faulted and the letter rejected. An address he sent to the judge directly without routing it through the registrar was similarly rejected.
