Court stops Oyo-Ita’s trial, accuses EFCC of abusing court process
- The EFCC has been blamed for misconduct by a Federal High Court in Abuja
- Specifically, the court accused the anti-graft agency of abuse of court process in the case involving Oyo-Ita
- As a result of this, the judge stopped the case until the EFCC do the needful
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The ongoing trial of Winifred Oyo-Ita Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, ordered a stay of proceeding in the ongoing trial of the former Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Its, and others.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in his ruling, described the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s act in obtaining an exparte order for the freezing of bank accounts of the 4th, 5th, and 6th defendants in the matter before another court as “an abuse of court process.”
Justice Taiwo, who described the EFCC’s conduct as “judge shopping” aimed at getting a favourable court judgment, said the anti-corruption agency’s conduct was reprehensible and condemnable.
Source: Twitter
He said it was an act of forum shopping.
Taiwo, who was visibly angry with the anti-graft agency’s action, said it was a contemptuous move.
The judge then ordered a stay of proceedings in the trial until the EFCC and its lawyer “do the needful” by withdrawing the application before the other court.
The News Agency of Nigeria observes that Justice Taiwo did not fix any date for the court to reconvene sitting on the matter.
The EFCC had filed an exparte motion with suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1202/2020 before Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo for the freezing of the bank accounts of 4th, 5th and 6th defendants in the alleged N570 million money laundering charge preferred against the ex-HoS and others, even when the matter is ongoing before Justice Taiwo.
NAN reports that while Oyo-Ita is the 1st defendant in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/60/2020 before Taiwo, Garba Umar, and his two companies; Slopes International Ltd and Gooddeal Investment Ltd are 4th, 5th and 6th defendants respectively.
Meanwhile, the EFCC frowned at the increasing number of messages published in the print media by groups and individuals, congratulating Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa.
The anti-graft agency said the congratulatory messages are gradually turning into a distraction and requested that they should be halted henceforth.
The directive was contained in a statement issued by the commission on Tuesday, March 2, and seen by Legit.ng.
In another report, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has described the nomination of Bawa as chairman of the EFCC as another win for Nigerian youths.
The NYCN made the declaration in a statement sent to Legit.ng on Wednesday, February 17, and signed by its president, Comrade Solomon Adodo.
The council said Nigeria has made another new discovery in Bawa, adding that they fully support the new EFCC boss to succeed in his new role.
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Aanu Adegun is a politics and current affairs content editor at Legit.ng with over 7 years of experience in both digital and traditional media. A graduate of English Studies from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo state, Aanu started his journalism career as a features writer. Aanu, who is also a creative writer has written books and children magazines. He once anchored some specialised pages of a national newspaper. Aanu is also a satirist.
Source: Legit.ng
