The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss the suit that is seeking to invoke an order of mandamus to compel it to initiate criminal proceedings against the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole.
The suit against the anti-graft agency, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/628/2018, which was lodged before the court by Edo state based cleric and activist, Bishop Osadolor Ochei, is urging the court to declare that EFCC has a statutory duty to investigate different petitions that contained allegations of financial recklessness against Oshiomhole.
Vanguard reports that Ochei alleged that Oshiomhole who was sued as the 2nd Respondent, while in office as Edo state governor, acquired properties in United States of America, South Africa and Dubai worth billions of U.S. dollars and far in excess of his legitimate income.
Ochei also alleged that Oshiomhole built a mansion worth more than N10billion in his home town known as Iyamho, while in office.
He said: “The said building was constructed by Verissimo, a South African Architectural outfit. The said house of the 2nd Respondent has swimming pools, water fountains, multiple theatres for cinema and live performances, huge event halls, bridges, manmade lake, lodges of different sizes amongst others.
“The said cost of building the mansion is well outside the 2nd Respondent’s legitimate income. The 2nd Respondent’s lifestyle and extent of the said property were not justified by his source of income.”
He claimed that he has sent a petition to the EFCC since November 4, 2016 but the anti-graft agency is yet to do anything about it. However, the EFCC said it has discretion on how to use its available manpower to carry out investigations into petitions submitted to it.
The commission submitted: “That investigation of cases is a holistic process which entails time, resources, inter-agency cooperation, interview of different persons and gathering of evidence over a long period of time depending on the nature of the case and other variables.”
“That Respondent is not under obligation to report or give account of its investigations to any individual or under a timeline within which to carry out its functions.” The judge in charge of the case, Justice Anwuli Chikere, has fixed November 19 to commence hearing on the matter. M
