The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) have approached a federal high court in Abuja to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour, seeking the probe and prosecution of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Keyamo had filed a lawsuit seeking a court order for the law enforcement agencies to arrest the former vice president following an audio recording released by Michael Achimugu, Atiku’s former aide. Achimugu had claimed that Atiku used shell organizations to divert public funds.
However, ICPC and EFCC’s lawyers faulted the competence of the suit and prayed the court for its dismissal on grounds of not meeting the requirements of the law. They argued that Keyamo should have first obtained the leave of the court in seeking to compel an agency of the government to act.
Atiku Abubakar’s lawyer who was also in court, faulted the competence of the suit and accused Keyamo of engaging in abuse of office. Benson Igbanoi asked the court to decline jurisdiction among other grounds, that no cause of action was disclosed by the plaintiff.
O. C. Uju, Keyamo’s lawyer, asked the court to dismiss the objections raised by the defendants and proceed to hear the case on merit.
Justice James Omotosho who presided over the case, adjourned till June 5 for ruling on the preliminary objections.