JOS- The Federal High Court in Jos, yesterday, adjourned till December 2, ruling on an application by Chief Joshua Dariye, to be joined in the case between Plateau and the Federal Government.
The Plateau government is asking the court to compel the Acountant-General of the Federation(AGF), to reveal the total amount released to the Federal Government by an order of a British Court.
The money, totalling over N77 million was allegedly looted from the state by Dariye, the former governor.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to Dariye, 5Garba Paul, informed the court of an application on notice
by the former governor seeking to be joined in the suit as an interested party.
He said the motion, dated November 10, had been duly served on all relevant parties, including the Office of the AGF.
Paul said that, the motion, supported by a 36-paragraph affidavit, deposed to by Dariye himself, was relevant in the matter.
He said that was because, the applicant sought to prove that, the recovered money belonged to him.
The counsel argued that, the legal battle over the alleged looted funds, which began in the UK, “cannot be continued without the applicant being heard”.
“We urge the court not to shut the door of justice against the applicant, but to look at the case in the light of his right to a fair hearing,” he said.
However, counsel to Plateau Government, Yusuf Pam, objected to the application, arguing that, the applicant failed to disclose what his interests were in the case.
“They have failed to show whether they want to be joined as applicants or defence,” he said.
He also argued that, the matter, being a case of Order of Mandamus, was misconstrued by the applicants for
a common law.
According to him, only in common law cases, are such interested parties entertained.
Counsel representing the Federal Government and the AGF, Emmanuel Akaa, had earlier said, he was not opposed
to Dariye’s application.
After listening to the arguments of both parties, Judge Stephen Ada, adjourned the matter till December 2, for ruling.
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