On Thursday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced its intention to reply to a lawsuit brought by Festus Keyamo against Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 25 February election.
While speaking with Judge James Omotosho of a Federal High Court in Abuja, Oluwakemi Odogun, a lawyer for the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), announced the commission’s intention to file its response in the case.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Keyamo, a spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), filed a lawsuit against Mr Abubakar with case number FHC/ABJ/CS/84/2023 for alleged money laundering.
The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), the International Code Council (ICC), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have all been named as defendants in the case.
According to a video made public by Mr Keyamo’s former assistant Michael Achimugu, he had previously requested that law enforcement agents arrest Atiku.
The ex-vice president was said to have discussed the use of shell companies to launder money in the leaked recording.
According to NAN, on March 7 Justice Omotosho threatened to strike out the claim due to Mr Keyamo’s lack of careful prosecution of the matter.
Mr Keyamo’s attorney, Okechukwu Uju-azorji, stated that a hearing was scheduled once the matter resumed.
Mr Uju-azorji stated that a preliminary objection was served on him by the former vice president (1st defendant) and that a response had been filed.
But, Atiku reportedly did not have legal counsel present in court today to submit his application.
In order for the first defendant to hear his objection, he requested a postponement.
Senami Adeosun, the EFCC’s attorney, said they might still file a response to the lawsuit within the deadline set by the court.
Mr Odogun, speaking on behalf of ICPC, made similar points.
The initial procedures were sent to us on March 15. As we are still inside the filing deadline, we asked for a postponement,” she explained.
The preliminary objection hearing was postponed until April 18 by the judge.
Mr Omotosho decided that Atiku and CCB, who were not represented in court, be served with hearing notices and that any interested parties file their applications by the next adjourned date.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Atiku’s attorney Mike Ozekhome filed a preliminary objection asking the court to strike out or dismiss the complaint on the grounds that the plaintiff lacked competence and “locus standi.”
The lawyer contended that his client lacked a valid cause of action and that the complaint should be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
On the other hand, in a counter affidavit deposed to by Henry Offiah, a litigation clerk in Mr Keyamo’s chambers, he claims that the CCB, ICPC, and EFCC did not respond to the allegations he made against Atiku and did not take any action to invite or arrest him for the purpose of investigating those allegations.
He claimed that on January 16 he formally petitioned the three agencies to investigate the claims against the former vice president by inviting him to testify.
