…Orders transfer of case to another Judge
The Appeal Court, Abuja Division, has set aside the injunction granted by the High Court of Kogi state restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), from the investigation and prosecution of officials of the state.
A press statement by the commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, Friday in Abuja, said the EFCC had, on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 filed a motion before the Appellate Court, asking for a stay of execution of the judgment of the Kogi state High Court in Suit No: HCL/696/2022 between Kogi state government and the commission, and others delivered on December 12, 2022 as well as the consequential order made on the February 6, 2023.
“In a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday, May 18, 2023, the Appellate Court dismissed the preliminary objection of the Kogi State Government and also held that the ex-parte order of the trial court was “unlawful.”
Uwujaren noted that N300,000 was awarded against the Kogi state government and its officials.
He said N100,000 was also awarded against the state government for filing the frivolous preliminary objection and another sum of N200,000 for obtaining prejudicial ex-parte order against the Commission.
The spokesperson further stated that, “The Appellate Court further directed the Chief Judge of Kogi state, Justice Josiah Joe Majebi, to transfer the matter to another Judge.”
Uwujaren said the appeal was handled on behalf of the EFCC by Kemi Pinhero (SAN), Jubrin Okutepa (SAN), and Rotimi Oyedepo, (SAN).
