Atiku Vs Keyamo: EFCC, ICPC To File Response As Atiku Seeks Dismissal Of Suit

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) have indicated their intentions to respond in a suit filed by a spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Festus Keyamo against the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

Naija News recalls that Keyamo had in January instituted a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/84/2023 against Abubakar over allegations bordering on money laundering.

It was following an allegation laid on Atiku by one of his former aides identified as Michael Achimugu, who revealed how the former vice president was allegedly involved in corrupt practices.

Keyamo had named the former vice president, as the first defendant, while other defendants named in the suit include the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), ICPC and the EFCC as second to fourth defendants respectively.

However, during the court hearing on Thursday, the lawyer for the EFCC, Senami Adeosun prayed to the court for some time to make them file their process, saying they were still within time to respond.

Similarly, counsel for the ICPC, Oluwakemi Odogun also pleaded with Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court, Abuja of that the commission should be given time to file its response in the case.

She said “We were served on March 15 with the originating processes. We sought an adjournment since we are within time to file. (mgtrailer.com) ”

However, Keyamo’s counsel, Okechukwu Uju-azorji, said that the former vice president, the 1st defendant, served on him a preliminary objection and that they had responded.
The lawyer said Abubakar, however, was not represented in court today to take his application.

He prayed the court for an adjournment to enable the 1st defendant to take his objection
The judge adjourned the matter until April 18 for a hearing of the pending preliminary objection.

It was gathered in a preliminary objection filed by Atiku’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, the ex-vice president sought an order striking out or dismissing the suit for being incompetent and want of locus standi.

But Keyamo, in a counter affidavit deposed to by Henry Offiah, a litigation clerk in his chamber, averred that the CCB, ICPC and EFCC failed to respond to the allegations he raised against Abubakar and indeed failed to take any steps to invite or arrest him for the purpose of investigating the allegations against him.