The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have requested Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja to throw away a suit filed by Festus Keyamo, the serving Minister of State for Labour and ex-spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign.
Keyamo sought the probe and prosecution of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar on account of an audio recording released by his former aide, Michael Achimugu.
In the audio, Atiku was allegedly heard explaining how some organizations were established to divert public funds.
Keyamo, in a letter addressed to the EFCC, ICPC, and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), requested the agencies to commence the prosecution of Abubakar within 72 hours.
He also filed a suit in court seeking an order to compel Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to submit himself to the security agencies for a thorough investigation.
During the resumed hearing of the case, counsel for the anti-graft agencies disputed the competence of the suit and urged the court to do away with it. They argued that Keyamo did not comply with the requirements of the law in filing the suit, as he was supposed to have first obtained the leave of the court to seek to compel an agency of the government to act and did not approach the agencies properly.
Atiku’s counsel, Benson Igbanoi, also challenged the competence of the suit, accusing Keyamo of abuse of office. He requested the court to decline jurisdiction, among other grounds, as the plaintiff did not disclose any cause of action.
The counsel for Keyamo, however, prayed the court to dismiss the objections raised by the defendants and proceed to hear the case on merit.
After hearing arguments from all the parties involved, Justice James Omotosho adjourned the case to June 5 for ruling on the preliminary objections.
It is pertinent to note that corruption and related offenses have been a major issue in Nigeria, and the ICPC and the EFCC have been at the forefront of the fight against corruption in the country.
However, it is also important to ensure that due process is followed in the pursuit of justice, and all parties involved are given a fair hearing. The outcome of this case will undoubtedly be of great interest to the people of Nigeria.
