The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has prayed a Federal High Court, Abuja to dismiss a suit by Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo, seeking the probe and prosecution of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) also urged the trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, to discountenance Mr Keyamo’s case.
In the suit filed on Jan. 20, Minister Keyamo sought an order compelling the EFCC, ICPC and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to probe and prosecute the former VP following claims by one of his ex-aides, Mr. Michael Achimugu, that between 1999 and 2007 when he was vice president, the former VP allegedly conspired with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to rip off the country using what he termed “Special Purpose Vehicles.”
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At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, lawyers to the EFCC and ICPC in two separate preliminary objections, faulted the competence of the suit and prayed the court to dismiss it. The EFCC lawyer argued that Minister Keyamo did not comply with the requirement of the law in filing the suit. He says the Minister ought to have first obtained the leave of the court in seeking to compel an agency of the government to act.
Justice Omotosho, after entertaining the arguments by lawyers to the parties, adjourned until June 5 for ruling in the preliminary objections.
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