SANWO-OLU DIDN’T SUE EFCC – LAGOS GOVT DENIES KNOWLEDGE OF LAWSUIT
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday dissociated itself from a lawsuit allegedly filed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over a threat to arrest, detain and prosecute him after his tenure as governor.
Darlington Ozurumba, who claimed to be legal counsel to Sanwo-Olu, filed the fundamental right enforcement suit before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of a Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a press statement signed by Lawal Pedro, (SAN), the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, he said “Our attention has been drawn to the news circulating in a section of the media, titled: “Sanwo-Olu Sues EFCC over alleged plan to arrest, prosecute him after tenure.”
“We need to clarify that Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at no time, sued or briefed any legal practitioner to file a suit on his behalf concerning the above subject matter.
“Also, it is disingenuous for the Governor who enjoys immunity as conferred on him by the Constitution and has almost three years ahead of him to brief any lawyer on this kind of matter.
“To the best of my knowledge and my inquiry confirmed that the EFCC is not investigating the Governor and has never invited him or threatened arrest of any member of his staff, domestic or otherwise.
“We are currently investigating how the case came to be without our knowledge.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been an exemplar in terms of service delivery, prudent and judicious management of the public resources.
“Therefore, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu who is busy working assiduously on how to improve the living conditions of all Lagosians does not have anything to fear when he eventually leaves office at the end of his tenure in May 2027.
“We, therefore, enjoin media organisations to be wary of the kind of reports they entertain and publish on their respected platforms in order not to mislead the public.”
Earlier in the day on Tuesday, when the matter was called for mention on Tuesday, Ozurumba informed the court that he had withdrawn the earlier originating summons filed and replaced it with a new one.
The lawyer said the anti-graft agency had been duly served with the latest court documents.
However, the EFCC counsel, Hadiza Afegbua, said she had not seen the documents.
Besides, the proof of service of the processes was not in the court file. Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter until November 11 for further mention.