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The former governor of Delta State, James Ibori has filed a law suit against the Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State, south-south Nigeria asking for N10 billion in damages, for alleged “libel, unlawful harassment and twisted falsehood” by the agency.
Ibori, in his suit, is also seeking an order restraining the EFCC from further publishing or causing to be published, any libellous publication against him.
In response, Ibori said he was not on the run and that the Asaba High Court had restrained the commission and its officers from arresting him pending the determination of the substantive motion on notice.
However, the agency argued that there is no existing court order stopping the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), from arresting the former governor of Delta state, Mr. James Ibori.
The EFCC has debunked claims in some media reports on Thursday that Justice I.N. Buba of the Federal High Court, Asaba, issued an order restraining the anti-graft agency from arresting the former governor.
The EFCC said, “The Commission wishes to state that reports making the rounds in the media over the purported interim injunction are not true. We have since made enquiries from the judge and the court to know whether such an order was given and the response we got was that no such order was issued by either the judge or the court. Instead, the court only directed the applicants to put the Commission on notice while it refused to grant any interim injunction as sought.’’
The commission further stated that up till now (the time of filing this report), no one has served it with any court order if it is true that one was granted and urged members of the public to disregard any reports on the court order as such do not exist.
On the basis of this, the EFCC insists Chief Ibori should come out of hiding and honor the Commission’s invitation.
The EFCC has been after former Governor James Ibori over allegations of financial crimes against him. The alleged offences include money laundry, embezzlement, misappropriation and general financial recklessness while he was governor and the Commission has since last week declared him wanted.
Also rising in defense of Ibori, the Delta State House of Assembly speaker said EFCC’s action against Ibori “is unacceptable, against the principles of fair hearing and a gross violation of the doctrine of the rule of law.”
Okonta, at a press briefing in Asaba said: “I must confess that an institution like EFCC must comply with the rule of law. This is an obvious violation of the rule of law.
“You are all aware that Ibori was invited to appear on April 17. Today is April 16 and he has already been declared wanted. Is that fair?
He said, “We are condemning the action of EFCC for not following due process and the rule of law. “We are not saying EFCC should not do its job. What we are saying is for them to comply with due process.
“If you invite an individual to appear before you for an interview, you must allow the time to expire before declaring him wanted. This obvious violation of laid dawn rules is unacceptable to us,” he added.
The former governor of Delta State, James Ibori has filed a law suit against the Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State, south-south Nigeria asking for N10 billion in damages, for alleged “libel, unlawful harassment and twisted falsehood” by the agency.
Ibori, in his suit, is also seeking an order restraining the EFCC from further publishing or causing to be published, any libellous publication against him.
In response, Ibori said he was not on the run and that the Asaba High Court had restrained the commission and its officers from arresting him pending the determination of the substantive motion on notice.
However, the agency argued that there is no existing court order stopping the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), from arresting the former governor of Delta state, Mr. James Ibori.
The EFCC has debunked claims in some media reports on Thursday that Justice I.N. Buba of the Federal High Court, Asaba, issued an order restraining the anti-graft agency from arresting the former governor.
The EFCC said, “The Commission wishes to state that reports making the rounds in the media over the purported interim injunction are not true. We have since made enquiries from the judge and the court to know whether such an order was given and the response we got was that no such order was issued by either the judge or the court. Instead, the court only directed the applicants to put the Commission on notice while it refused to grant any interim injunction as sought.’’
The commission further stated that up till now (the time of filing this report), no one has served it with any court order if it is true that one was granted and urged members of the public to disregard any reports on the court order as such do not exist.
On the basis of this, the EFCC insists Chief Ibori should come out of hiding and honor the Commission’s invitation.
The EFCC has been after former Governor James Ibori over allegations of financial crimes against him. The alleged offences include money laundry, embezzlement, misappropriation and general financial recklessness while he was governor and the Commission has since last week declared him wanted.
Also rising in defense of Ibori, the Delta State House of Assembly speaker said EFCC’s action against Ibori “is unacceptable, against the principles of fair hearing and a gross violation of the doctrine of the rule of law.”
Okonta, at a press briefing in Asaba said: “I must confess that an institution like EFCC must comply with the rule of law. This is an obvious violation of the rule of law.
“You are all aware that Ibori was invited to appear on April 17. Today is April 16 and he has already been declared wanted. Is that fair?
He said, “We are condemning the action of EFCC for not following due process and the rule of law. “We are not saying EFCC should not do its job. What we are saying is for them to comply with due process.
“If you invite an individual to appear before you for an interview, you must allow the time to expire before declaring him wanted. This obvious violation of laid dawn rules is unacceptable to us,” he added.
