The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) wants the dismissal of a suit by Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo, seeking the probe of ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) also urged Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja to discountenance the case.
The spokesperson of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) filed the suit on January 20; he included the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
Keyamo cited the allegation by Atiku’s ex-aide, Michael Achimugu, who said the former VP and ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo siphoned public funds using “Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs)”.
On Wednesday, lawyers to the EFCC and ICPC, Samuel Okeleke and Mrs. O B. Odogu, in separate objections, prayed the court to dismiss the suit.
Okeleke said Keyamo ought to have first obtained the leave of the court in seeking to compel a government agency to act, NAN reports.
In her plea, Odogu stated that the minister did not approach her agency properly, adding that the ICPC works discreetly.
“He gave us 72 hours to investigate and prosecute the 1st defendant. That is not how we operate; we take our time to do discreet investigation,” she said.
Lawyer to Atiku, Benson Igbanoi, accused Keyamo of abuse of office and urged the court to decline jurisdiction, among other grounds.
But the plaintiff’s lawyer, O. C. Uju, maintained the arguments did not hold water and prayed the judge to hear the case on the merits.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the hearing until June 5, 2023, for ruling on the preliminary objections.
