EFCC allegedly defies court, seeks fresh forfeiture order on Saraki’s Ilorin home

…says, I built property with personal fund

By Mumini Abdulkareem

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday in
Lagos allegedly defied earlier court orders restraining it from
seeking forfeiture of property belonging to former senate president,
Dr Bukola Saraki.
Saraki, had accused the EFCC of misleading a similar court of Lagos
jurisdiction which earlier ordered the forfeiture of two of his houses
in Ikoyi, Lagos State by deliberately concealing a pending order of a
Federal High Court sitting in Abuja restraining EFCC from taking any
steps regarding the seizure of the property in question pending the
determination of a suit filed before that court.
The EFCC yesterday reportedly filed another process in the Federal
High Court, Lagos, in which it sought the interim order of the court
for the forfeiture of Saraki’s home in Ilorin.
Dr Saraki however described the latest and earlier moves by the
anti-graft agency as clear abuse of court process and pursuit of
vendetta by the Magu-led commission rather than fighting corruption.
The former senate president in a statement by his media aide, Yusuph
Olaniyonu on the issue further accused the EFCC of rubbishing the rule
of law in the country in flagrant disregard to the statement of the
nation’s highest ranking judicial officer, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko
Mohammed.
According to him, the property in question was built from his personal
fund and lawful pension after his time as a two-time governor of Kwara
State adding that he firmly believe in the ability of the nation’s
court to serve the course of justice to all matters and all persons.
He said the application for forfeiture of his house in Ilorin amounts
to witch-hunt, abuse of power and miscarriage of justice and appealed
to his friends, associates and supporters not to be disturbed “by this
ugly development”.
Part of the statement reads:
“This move, just like the previous one, the anti-graft agency made by
filing for a similar in the same court on Saraki’s Ikoyi House, is a
clear abuse of the court process, violation of an existing order of a
court of similar jurisdiction, disrespect of the judicial institution
and therefore, amounts to forum shopping which shows that the EFCC is
only engaging in act of vendetta as opposed to fighting corruption.
“This action of the EFCC runs contrary to the statement of the
nation’s highest ranking judicial officer, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko
Mohammed who stated that: “The rule of law must be observed in all our
dealings and we must impress it on the governments at all levels to
actively toe the path. The right of every citizen against any form of
oppression and impunity must be jealously guarded and protected with
the legal tools at our disposal.
“All binding court orders must be obeyed. Nobody, irrespective of his
or her position, will be allowed to toy with court judgments. As we
all know, flagrant disobedience of court orders is a direct invitation
to anarchy in the country. Such acts are completely antithetical to
rule of law in a democratic environment and will not be tolerated
under my watch as Chief Justice or Nigeria”
“Dr. Saraki is equally surprised that EFCC which prides itself as an
institution that is built on the rule of law has decided to ignore the
existing order of the Federal High Court, Abuja “restraining the
respondents (Commission) by themselves, their subordinates, agents,
servants, or privies howsoever, from seizing, impounding, taking over,
confiscating or otherwise forfeiting the Applicant’s (Saraki) right
town and peacefully enjoy any of his assets and properties”, he noted.
Dr Saraki said instead of the EFCC consolidating its cases by joining
the new application with the old one it earlier filed through which it
got an interim order of forfeiture already being challenged by the
immediate past Senate President in the Federal High Court, Lagos, it
decided to proliferate litigation by filing a fresh matter, all in an
attempt to embarrass him and ignore an existing order.
“The Commission was engaging in this rigmarole in order to ensure it
has different cases before different judges against the same person.
The decision of the EFCC to file for a forfeiture order before a
Federal High Court in Lagos on a property based in Ilorin also amounts
to forum shopping, an act which an institution which seeks to be
respected in the international community should not engage in. The new
move only shows the level of desperation of the EFCC to nail Dr.
Saraki at all cost and by all means possible.
“However, we will like to put it on record that the Ilorin home of Dr.
Saraki was built after he left office as Governor and came about
through his lawful pensions and personal fund.  The application for
forfeiture of this property therefore amounts to witch-hunt, abuse of
power and miscarriage of justice.
“While we insist that Dr. Saraki is ready to meet the anti-graft
agency in court, we reiterate the firm belief of the former Senate
President in the rule of law, the sanctity of the judiciary and
ability of the nation’s courts to serve the cause of justice in all
matters and to all persons.
“We hereby appeal to all the friends, associates and supporters of Dr.
Saraki not to be disturbed by this ugly development. We assure them
that the former Senate President will contest this illegal move of the
EFCC in court and he is sure the court will do justice in this
matter”, he submitted.