Crime
Abuja High Court Strikes Out Saraki’s Suit Against EFCC, ICPC
Abuja High Court Strikes Out Saraki’s Suit Against EFCC, ICPC
Abuja high court strikes out Saraki’s suit against EFCC, ICPC. The judge struck out the two cases after a notice of discontinuance of the suits cited in the court record and after no lawyer appeared for the parties.
The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court struck out two separate suits filed by former Senate President Bukola Saraki to seek court protection against the plan by the EFCC to probe him.
Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the two cases on Tuesday, following a notice of discontinuance of the suits cited in the court record and after no lawyer appeared for the parties at the resumed hearing.
The former Senate president had filed the suits following the EFCC’s decision in 2019 to probe his earnings between 2003 and 2011, when he was the Kwara State governor.
The anti-graft commission was reported to have seized some of his properties in the Ikoyi area of Lagos then.
However, on May 10, 2019, Mr Saraki filed two separate suits, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/507/2019 and FHC/ABJ/CS/508/2019, before retired Justice Taiwo Taiwo to challenge the action of the EFCC.
The ex-Senate president named the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Inspector General of Police, and the State Security Service (SSS) as the first, second, and third defendants.
Others are the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as the fourth to sixth respondents, respectively.
Mr Taiwo, who was the presiding judge then, had ruled on an ex parte application filed along with the substantive suits.
The judge ordered the EFCC and the other five respondents in the suits to stay their investigations.
He directed the parties to maintain the status quo by suspending the probe, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed by the applicant.
Court Strikes Out Saraki’s Suit Against EFCC
The order was granted after Mr Saraki’s lawyer moved the application on May 14, 2019.
However, the EFCC later applied that the judge should recuse himself and the matter be transferred to another court.
Mr Taiwo sent back the case file to the chief judge, and the matter was reassigned to Justice Anwuli Chikere (rtd.) for adjudication.
When the matter came up on July 14, 2021, before Mr Chikere, EFCC counsel Chile Okoronkwo complained that Mr Taiwo’s order had hindered the agency “from performing its duty for about two years.”
The lawyer, who stated that Mr Saraki continued to hinge on the order of the court any time he was invited, urged the court to vacate the order.
But the suits were reassigned to Justice Inyang Ekwo following the retirement of Mr Chikere.
Mr Ekwo had, on January 25, 2023, struck out the two suits for lack of diligent prosecution.
After the suits were struck out, the former Senate president, through his lawyer, approached the court for a relisting of the cases on the cause list of the court.
And on October 28, 2024, Mr Ekwo granted Mr Saraki’s prayer to amend the suits against the respondents.
The judge granted the application after it was moved by Mr Saraki’s counsel, Tunde Afe-Babalola, SAN, and was not opposed by the defence lawyers.
The cases were recently reassigned to Mr Umar.
EFCC Releases Ex-AGF Malami After Hours Of Interrogation
EFCC releases ex-AGF Malami after hours of interrogation. He said he would return for further questioning.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released the former attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, after hours of interrogation by the anti-graft team.
Mr Malami confirmed his release in his X account on Saturday. The former minister said that he had been released and scheduled for another meeting with investigators.
He said that the reality behind the “fabricated allegations” levelled against him would become clearer with time.
“In line with my undertaking to keep Nigerians updated on my invitation by EFCC, I give glory to Allah for his divine intervention. “The engagement was successful and I am eventually released while on an appointment for further engagement as the truth relating to the fabricated allegations against me continues to unfold.”
EFCC Releases Ex-AGF Malami After Hours Of Interrogation
The EFCC had summoned Mr Malami through a letter dated November 24, and signed by Sunday Ofen-Imu on behalf of its chairman, Ola Olukoyede.
The EFCC did not disclose the specific allegations for which Mr Malami was invited.
Kano NSCDC Nabs 11 Suspected Hoodlums With Dangerous Weapons
Kano NSCDC nabs 11 suspected hoodlums with dangerous weapons. According to Mr Idris-Abdullahi, the suspects were arrested on Wednesday at about 1:00 a.m.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kano State command, says it has arrested a gang of 11 suspected hoodlums found in possession of dangerous weapons in Mariri, Kumbotso Local Government Area.
This is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Kano by the command’s public relations officer, SC Ibrahim Idris-Abdullahi.
He listed the suspects as Idris Muhammad,20, Abubakar Shuaibu,24, Sagiru Hassan Yusuf, 25, Idris Muhammad Morata, 25, and Anas Rabiu, 23.
Others were Yahaya Muhammad, 29, Khalid Idris, 28, Muhammad Adamu, 19, Muktar Auwal Muktar ,22, Salim Muktar, 18, and Saifullahi Nuhu,18.
According to Mr Idris-Abdullahi, operatives of the command apprehended the suspects on Wednesday at about 1:00 a.m, armed with dangerous local weapons.
NSCDC
“The gang was on a rampage after attending a local traditional festival in Mariri area and were attacking residents and dispossessing them of their belongings.
“The gang also stormed a nearby NSCDC outpost in Mariri, attacked and left a staff fractured in the office” he said
Idris-Abdullahi listed the items recovered to include six cutlasses, swords and a pair of scissors.
He added that the command’s intelligence and investigation department had concluded investigations and the suspects would be charged to court.
Idris-Abdullahi quoted the state commandant, Mohammed Hassan-Agalama, as reaffirming the command’s commitment to tackling criminal activities, protecting critical national assets and safeguarding public peace in Kano State.
Lagos Police Nab 26 Over Counterfeit Currency, Adulterated Diesel
Lagos Police nab 26 over counterfeit currency, adulterated diesel. The police said N951,300 in counterfeit notes was recovered from the suspects’ premises during the raid.
The police command in Lagos has apprehended 26 suspects over counterfeit currency and adulterated diesel in the Eti-Osa and Lekki areas. The command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed this in a statement on Friday.
She said the suspects were apprehended on Thursday afternoon during a joint operation conducted by police officers and officials of the Kick Against Indiscipline.
According to her, a total of N951,300 in counterfeit notes was recovered from the suspects’ premises during the raid.
The spokesperson said investigations revealed that four of the suspects were directly involved in the production and distribution of adulterated diesel and engine oil, locally known as ‘rice and beans’.
“The illicit product was sold to unsuspecting motorists across the area. Two other suspects were identified as suppliers of the adulterated petroleum products,” she said.
Police Arrests
Ms Adebisi said that police commissioner Olohundare Jimoh warned all criminally minded individuals to desist from their nefarious activities.
“CP Jimoh cautioned that anyone involved in acts that threaten public peace or economic stability will face the full weight of the law,” she said.
She assured residents that Lagos remains safe, reiterating that the command is in control of the security situation and has prioritised the safety and well-being of all residents.
She urged the public to provide credible and timely information that could assist the police in apprehending criminals and preventing crime.
“Public cooperation remains essential to sustaining the peace and security for which Lagos state is known,” she said.
-
Crime7 months agoKogi Assembly Considers Law To Regulate Rent, Establish Control Board: Tenancy Law
-
Akwa Ibom10 months agoThe Apostolic Church Gets New Territorial Chairman, Exco
-
Akwa Ibom10 months agoUmo Eno Commences Payment Of 80,000 Naira Minimum Wage With Arrears
-
News10 months agoThe Apostolic Church Gets New National President, Executive
-
News9 months agoSenator Natasha Returns To Senate With Husband Amid Seat Dispute
-
News8 months agoAtiku Reveals Why He Failed To Pick Wike As Running Mate In 2023
-
Economy7 months agoKiyosaki: Is Tinubu’s Government Afraid Of Ibrahim Traore?
-
Politics10 months agoPresident Trump Changes Divorce Law, No 50% Property Shares