By: Bayero Ade
The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting or prosecuting Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu after his tenure.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik struck out the case on October 31 after Sanwo-Olu’s counsel, Gbenga Akande, filed a motion to discontinue the suit. The case had been filed earlier in October by Darlington Ozurumba, a lawyer representing the governor, alleging an EFCC plan to arrest and prosecute him after his tenure ends on May 29, 2027.
The suit argued that such an alleged plan violated Sanwo-Olu’s fundamental rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement as guaranteed under sections 35(1) & (4) and 41(1) of the Nigerian Constitution. It sought a court order restraining the EFCC from harassing, arresting, detaining, interrogating, or prosecuting Sanwo-Olu in connection with his tenure as governor.
However, the Lagos State government denied authorizing the legal action. State Attorney-General Lawal Pedro, SAN, clarified that neither the governor nor his aides were under investigation or facing any arrest threats from the EFCC. Pedro also pledged to investigate how the lawsuit was filed without the governor’s knowledge.
In a counter affidavit, Ufuoma Ezire, a superintendent in the EFCC’s legal and prosecution department, confirmed that the agency had no ongoing investigation or plans to arrest Sanwo-Olu or his staff.
During yesterday’s proceedings, EFCC counsel Hadiza Afegbua expressed surprise upon learning the case had already been struck out on October 31, as it was not among the ten cases listed for hearing that day. Records show that only Akande, representing Sanwo-Olu, was present at the proceedings that led to the dismissal of the suit.
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