N2bn Loot: Judge Read Riot Act To EFCC Justice Ademola Adeniyi of a federal high court sitting in Abuja yesterday threatened to summon the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over media reports on case filed by Justice Gladys Olotu, who was sacked by the National Judicial Council (NJC) for misconduct. The EFCC had in a counter-affidavit dated April 1, 2014 and filed to counter the claims by Justice Olotu in her suit for the enforcement of her fundamental human rights, pending before the court said it is still investigating Justice Olotu and two others. It also claimed in the affidavit that its investigation was based on a petition written to it by a group, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), in which Justice Olotu was also accused of maintaining an offshore account with First Bank (United Kingdom) and was alleged to have worth over N2billion in cash and investment. Justice Olotu, who was compulsorily retired earlier this year by President Goodluck Jonathan on ground of “gross misconduct and upon the recommendation by the National Judicial Council (NJC),” went to court after she was invited by the EFCC. But when the case came up yesterday, Justice Adeniyi frowned at the reports in the media, which emanated from the commission. Next time they do it, I will not take it kindly with them. If they do that again, I will not hesitate to summon them. What you are doing creates wrong impression in the minds of the public. If you do that at the end of the case, no one will raise any objection. Do your work and allow the court to do its own. You are trying to pre-empt the court or prejudice the proceeding with these reports. I have them all here with me, Justice Adeniyi said. The case has been adjourned to October 2nd, 2014. The commission denied allegation by the retired judge that it was being instigated by the NJC and other defendants in the case. It also denied abusing Justice Olotu’s fundamental human rights as alleged, and stated that it was Justice Olotu in her suit that asked the court to, among others, restrain the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), the State Security Service (SSS), the Police and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) from further inviting or quizzing her. She averred, in a supporting affidavit, that the NJC and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke (SAN) were instigating the various security agencies against her for daring to challenge her compulsory retirement in a separate suit. She stated that upon the service of processes (in relation to her earlier suit, challenging her compulsory retirement) on them, the AGF and NJC “very unfortunately felt and indeed expressed anger against me
Posted on: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 16:59:48 +0000
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