The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), on Wednesday, told a Federal High Court, Abuja, that the action of the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has been hindering the agency from probing him.
The EFCC Counsel, Chile Okoronkwo, made this known to Justice Anwuli Chikere when the fundamental rights enforcement suits filed by the immediate-past senate president were mentioned in the court.
Recall that the EFCC had, in 2019, said it would probe Sarakis earnings between 2003 and 2011 when he was governor of Kwara.
The commission was reported to have seized some of his houses in the Ikoyi area of Lagos then.
However, reports that Saraki, on May 10, 2019, filed two separate suits before Justice Taiwo Taiwo to challenge the action of the Commission.
Justice Taiwo, who was the presiding judge, ruled on an ex parte application filed along with the substantive suits and ordered the anti-corruption agency (4th respondent) and the other five respondents to the suits to stay action on the probe pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed by the applicant.
The order was granted after Sunday Onubi, Sarakis lawyer, moved the application, on May 14, 2019.
Others in the two suits are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Inspector-General of Police (IGP), State Security Service, (SSS), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and Code of Conduct Bureau, (CCB) as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th respondents respectively.
The court had directed the parties to maintain the status quo by suspending the probe.
When the matter was called yesterday, Counsel to the ex-Senate President, Sunday Onubi, told the court that the matter was slated for mention. However, the EFCCs Lawyer, Okoronkwo, informed the court that he had an application to make.
Okoronkwo, who stated that Saraki continued to hinge on the order of the court any time he is invited, urged the court to vacate the order.
Chikere, noting that the court vacation was around the corner, adjourned the matter until Oct. 7 for hearing.
