A Federal High Court sitting in
Abuja has ordered the investigation of former Governor of Edo state, Comrade
Adams Oshiomhole.
Justice Anwuli Chikere on Tuesday
directed that Oshiomole, now the National Chairman of the All Progressives
Congress, APC, be served with an application brought before the court by an
anti-corruption crusader, Bishop Osadolor Ochei, seeking an order of mandamus
compelling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to arrest and
commence criminal proceedings against Oshiomhole over allegations of financial
fraud.
The Judge also ordered that the
anti-graft agency be also served with the court process, stressed that the
service be done within five days from October 9, 2018, when the order was made.
Bishop Ochei’s counsel, Dr
West-Idahosa while arguing a motion ex-parte filed in Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/628/
2018 urged the Court to allow Oshiomhole and the EFCC, who are the respondents
in the suit to file a reply to the weighty allegations made against them by the
Applicant in support of the Federal Government’s anti-corruption fight.
The exparte motion followed
Bishop Ochei’s petition to the EFCC on October 28, 2016, against Oshiomhole,
who was governor of Edo state from November 2008 to November 11, 2016.
Dr Idahosa, in praying the court
to grant the request of his client, referred the court to 86 exhibits filed in
support of the application and added that there are documents and electronic
pictures of palatial houses of the former governor, whose earnings all his life
cannot acquire and that, there are evidence on how Oshiomhole allegedly
diverted money for Edo state project to personal projects.
The Counsel added that there are
vouchers of exorbitant airfares that the former governor incurred, stressing
that the amount of the airfares are enough to buy air carrier for Edo state
people.
He said there are receipts of how
the ex-governor used huge amount of money of the state to repair his private
vehicles and urged the court to grant the relief of his client, saying that
EFCC has arrested and prosecuted lesser crimes and there is no reason why the
anti-graft agency should ignore the petition.
Justice Chikere adjourned till
23rd October 2018 for arguments from all the parties in the matter.
Bishop Ochei, in the motion,
wants the court to declare that the anti-graft agency has the statutory duty to
investigate and prosecute the former governor, upon his allegations against him
in line with the Act, establishing the commission.
The allegations bother on the
diversion of Edo state fund by the former governor, now the national chairman
of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to his personal use.
In an affidavit deposed to
personally by the applicant, he averred that, in view of the fact that
corruption has become a societal ill which has eaten deep into the fabric of
the society and there is the need for the EFCC to take complaints against
corrupt practices serious.
He said he has severally
complained to the EFCC about allegation of corrupt practices against Oshiomhole
without eliciting any response or interest by the commission.
According to him, “On May 4,
2012, one Matthew Edaghese sent a petition to the EFCC, complaining that while
serving as governor, Oshiomhole built mansions on a huge expanse of land worth
more than N10 billion, in excess of the former governor’s legitimate means of
income as governor.
”That EFCC did nothing about the
petition”, Bishop Ochei stated and added that he had, in 2016 petitioned
against Oshiomhole’s corrupt practices without any action by the EFCC.
He accused the former governor of
corruptly enriching himself with the fund of the Edo state government.
Toh fa. Ana dara ga dare
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