Panic as EFCC runs to court over Jonathan’s cousin
– EFCC files a counter-affidavit in a Federal High Court after ex-president Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin, Robert Azibaola had filed a suit against the anti-graft agency
– Azibaola alleges FCC had been detaining him unlawfully and wants him to indicts Jonathan
– EFCC denies this allegation, adding that Azibaola has been granted an administrative bail, but he has failed to meet up with the conditions
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday, May 19, told a Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss a suit filed against it by a cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Robert Azibaola.
Azibaola had been accused by the EFCC of collecting $40million from the former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki. He was subsequently arrested and detained by the anti-graft.
The anti-graft agency on Tuesday, May 3, said that Roberts received the money from Dasuki in September 2014, for the supply of “tactical communication kits.”
This comes contrary to Azibaola’s claim in his suit that the EFCC is detaining him for the purpose of forcing him to implicate the former president Jonathan.
READ ALSO: GEJ’s cousin sues federal govt over detention
EFCC told a Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss a suit filed against it by a cousin of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Robert Azibaola,
However, in a counter-affidavit deposed to by one of EFCC investigators, Mohammed Hassan, the anti-graft agency urged Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola of the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss a suit filed against it by Robert Azibaola.
The EFCC maintained that Azibaola’s detention was for the purpose of investigating an alleged fraud of $40m against him. According to the commission, letting Azibaola go would undermine its ongoing investigations.
The EFCC also claimed to have given Azibaola an administrative bail, saying he was the one who had failed to meet the conditions.
While urging the court to refuse Azibaola’s prayers, Hassan claimed that he filed the suit to frustrate investigations against him so that he could evade prosecution.
READ ALSO: Release our son – Jonathan’s kinsmen to EFCC
“An application for the enforcement of fundamental rights does not serve as a defence or shield from criminal investigation,” Hassan said, adding that the EFCC had perfected plans to charge Azibaola to court based on its findings.
“This suit is frivolous, time-wasting, an abuse of court processes and should be dismissed with cost,” Hassan said.
NAIJ.com recalls that Azibaola had filed a suit against the EFCC through his lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa last month.
He alleged that the EFCC had been detaining him unlawfully since March 23 when he voluntarily honoured an invitation by the anti-graft agency.
He claimed that he is being persecuted based on his blood relation with ex-President Jonathan, claiming that the EFFC continued to detain him so that he would implicate Jonathan.
Azibaola Robert is a prominent entrepreneur from the Niger Delta with large businesses in the construction and engineering sectors.
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