Politics
EFCC, ICPC To Address Keyamo’s Lawsuit Against Atiku
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated its intention to reply to the lawsuit filed by Festus Keyamo against Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 25th February 2019 election.
This announcement was made by the EFCC on Thursday.
In addition, Lawyer to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Oluwakemi Odogun, informed Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja that the commission plans to file its response in the case.
According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Festus Keyamo, who served as a spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), filed a lawsuit marked as FHC/ABJ/CS/84/2023 against Atiku Abubakar. The suit pertains to allegations of money laundering leveled against Mr. Abubakar.
In addition to Atiku Abubakar, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have been named as defendants in the lawsuit.
Prior to filing the lawsuit against Atiku Abubakar, Festus Keyamo had called on law enforcement agencies to arrest Mr. Abubakar based on an audio recording that was released by his former aide, Michael Achimugu.
In the audio recording, Atiku Abubakar was alleged to have explained how shell organizations were established to siphon public funds.
According to the report by NAN, Justice James Omotosho had issued a warning on March 7th that he might strike out the lawsuit due to Festus Keyamo’s alleged lack of diligence in prosecuting the case.
However, at the resumed hearing, Mr. Keyamo’s lawyer, Okechukwu Uju-azorji, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for hearing.
During the hearing, Mr. Uju-azorji stated that the former vice president, who is the 1st defendant, had served him with a preliminary objection and that they had responded accordingly.
However, he also mentioned that Atiku Abubakar was not present in court to receive their application.
Mr. Uju-azorji therefore requested an adjournment from the court to allow the 1st defendant to receive and respond to their objection.
Additionally, the counsel to the EFCC, Senami Adeosun, also requested a short period of time to file their response in the lawsuit, noting that they were still within the allowable timeframe. Similarly, Oluwakemi Odogun, who represented the ICPC, made a similar request.
“We were served on March 15 with the originating processes. We sought an adjournment since we are within time to file,” she said.
The judge adjourned the matter until 18 April for a hearing of the pending preliminary objection.
Justice Omotosho, having noted that Atiku Abubakar and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) were not represented in court, ordered that hearing notices be issued to them.
He also directed that any party wishing to file any application should do so before the next adjourned date.
According to the NAN report, Atiku’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, had filed a preliminary objection seeking an order to strike out or dismiss the lawsuit for being incompetent and lacking in “locus standi.”
Mike Ozekhome, contended that the case lacked jurisdiction and should be dismissed, as it did not provide a valid basis for the lawsuit against his client.
However, Festus Keyamo, in a counter affidavit sworn by Henry Offiah, a litigation clerk in his chamber, argued that the CCB, ICPC, and EFCC had failed to respond to the allegations he had made against Atiku.
He also claimed that these agencies had not taken any steps to investigate or invite the former vice president for questioning regarding the accusations leveled against him.
He said that he had written a petition to the CCB, ICPC, and EFCC on January 16th, requesting that they invite Atiku for questioning as part of an investigation into the accusations leveled against him.
Festus Keyamo further stated that the three agencies – CCB, ICPC, and EFCC – had refused to initiate any investigation into the accusations against Atiku, which left him feeling aggrieved. As a result, he filed the present lawsuit on January 20th.
“The allegations made against the 1st defendant (Abubakar) are the subject matter of the investigation sought by the plaintiff and the plaintiff seeks reliefs against the 1st defendant,” the document read.
Festus Keyamo argued in his counter affidavit that dismissing Atiku’s preliminary objection would be in the interest of justice.
Following his observations that ‘the momentum was strong’ Matt Gaetz whom 47th POTUS elect, Donald Trump nominated for Attorney General has withdrawn.
Biztellers reports that this follows his meeting with Senate and the feedback, which included two women, represented by their attorneys, who accused him of having paid for sex.
Consequently, Gaetz placed on record his full commitment to seeing “that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history.”
His withdrawal according his statement on micro-blogging site, X, was based on his conviction that “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle”.
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In is view, “Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1”.
Gaetz wrote, “I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback – and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.
“I remain fully committed to see that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history. I will forever be honored that President Trump nominated me to lead the Department of Justice and I’m certain he will Save America.”
His backers have promptly encouraged to take his seat in the House of Representatives, having been elected to the house under the flag of the Republicans to represent Florida.
The Executive Governors from Nigeria’s South West have unanimously nominated Senator Ademola Adeleke as the chairman of the zone on the National Economic Council (NEC).
Adeleke is the Executive Governor of Osun State, southwest, Nigeria.
This, according to the Spokesperson to Governor Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed, transpired on Thursday, at a meeting of the NEC.
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He noted that the meeting reviewed the state of Nigeria’s electricity sector and resolved to engage subnational structures to address current challenges in the sector.
“The meeting particularly sought to build on the devolution of the electricity sector and its movement into the concurrent legislative list which empowers state governments to regulate the sector in their respective areas,” he stated.
Consequently, the NEC, therefore set up an ad hoc committee to review actions in the sector by state governments and explore ways to ramp up activities through coordination, Rasheed highlighted.
The full list of members of NEC’s Ad-hoc Committee on National Electrification:
- Governor of Cross Rivers State, Bassey Out – Chairman, South-South
- Governor of Katsina State, Mallam Dikko Umaru Radda – Chairman, North-West
- Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya – Chairman, North-East
- Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke – Chairman, South-West
- Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma – Chairman, South-East
- Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang – Chairman, North-Central
- Hon. Minister of Finance, Wale Edun
- Hon. Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu
- Special Adviser, NEC and Climate Change, Rukaiya El-Rufai
- Special Adviser, Power Minister, Hon. Bolaji Tunji
- MD/CEO Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu
- MD/CEO Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Jennifer Adighije
- Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazak
- NEC Secretariat
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has announced its decision to back Northern candidates in the 2027 general elections, citing the urgent need to address the worsening socio-economic and security challenges facing the region.
In a communique issued after its National Executive Council meeting in Kaduna on Wednesday, the forum expressed deep concern over the economic state of Northern Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, attributing the region’s struggles to flawed governance and poor policy decisions.
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The ACF criticized the Federal Government’s economic policies, describing them as detrimental to the livelihoods of Northern citizens.
According to the communique, signed by the forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the policies have compounded the already dire economic conditions in the region.
The statement reads, “Arewa people remain at a great disadvantage, being already worse off economically compared to other parts of Nigeria. While economic reforms are indeed desirable, they should not impoverish the same people they are meant to serve. Policies must have a human face.”
The forum noted that the North faces chronic food insecurity, limited educational and vocational opportunities for youth, and a heavy reliance on small-scale economic activities.
“Livelihoods are currently dependent on micro activities. The region faces acute and chronic food insecurity; its youths lack education and skills training. Daunting as these may be, they can be reversed. The time to think big is now,” the communique emphasized.
The ACF also addressed the pervasive insecurity in the North, warning that the situation has begun to erode public confidence in the government.
“Security is an irreducible minimum of human existence. In this regard, insecurity in its various manifestations remains the most worrisome challenge of Arewa people, that has even started to corrosively undermine the authority of government,” the forum stated.
It condemned the government’s response to the crisis, arguing that the Federal Government has failed to meet its primary duty of safeguarding lives and property.
“That those whose responsibility it is to provide security will be saying they are doing their best is unacceptable,” the communique said. “The minimum duty of government is to safeguard life and property, and doing anything less is a failure.”
The ACF faulted what it described as the “flawed leadership selection process” under the Tinubu administration, claiming it has elevated individuals without the requisite competence or experience to key positions.
It urged the Federal Government to “review, reassess, reevaluate, and re-order the direction of its economic policies with a view to giving it the needed human face.”
Looking ahead to the next general elections, the ACF pledged its support for Northern politicians who demonstrate a clear commitment to addressing the region’s challenges and fostering national development.
“Notwithstanding the parlous state of Arewa’s glaring economic conditions, the policies of the current Federal Government have continued to make matters much worse,” the communique stated.
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