Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has secured a significant win in his ongoing legal battle against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). On Monday, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court granted his motion to amend two separate suits filed against the EFCC and other parties .
Saraki’s counsel, Tunde Afe-Babalola, SAN, moved the application, which didn’t face opposition from the defense lawyers. This development follows Justice Inyang Ekwo’s earlier decision to strike out the two suits due to lack of diligent prosecution on January 25 .
The original suits, filed on May 10, 2019, named the Attorney-General of the Federation, Inspector-General of Police, State Security Service, EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and Code of Conduct Bureau as defendants .
The court has now adjourned the matter until February 6, 2025, for hearing, with Justice Ekwo issuing a stern warning that any counsel responsible for delaying the proceedings will face personal penalties .
Justice Ekwo dismissed two suits filed by Bukola Saraki against the EFCC and others on January 25, 2023, due to lack of diligent prosecution. The suits, filed May 10, 2019, named the AGF, IGP, SSS, EFCC, ICPC, and CCB as defendants. After the dismissal, Saraki’s lawyer requested the court to relist the cases.
The court had directed the parties to maintain the status quo by suspending the probe.
However, the EFCC later applied that the judge should recuse himself and transfer the matter to another court.
Justice Taiwo sent the case file back to the chief judge, and the matter was reassigned to Justice Anwuli Chikere for adjudication.
When the matter came up on July 14, 2021, before Justice Chikere, EFCC’s counsel, Chile Okoronkwo, complained that Mr Taiwo’s order had hindered the agency “from performing its duty for about two years.”
The lawyer, who stated that Mr Saraki continued to hinge on the court’s order any time he was invited, urged the court to vacate the order.
But the suits were reassigned to Justice Ekwo following Mr Chikere’s retirement.
