Court rejects Ekiti government bid to stop EFCC probe

Efforts by the Ekiti State Government to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating the finances of the state were turned down by an Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti.

Justice Cornelius Akintayo refrained from granting an ex-parte order on grounds that all the defendants in the case should be put on notice to prepare for their defence at the court.

The judge consequently adjourned the suit to August 23, this year and ordered all parties in the suit to appear before him when the Motion on Notice would be heard.

The suit was filed by Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Owoseni Ajayi, to stop the impending investigation of the accounts of the state government by the EFCC.

Another relief sought by the plaintiffs was an order stopping the arrest of the Commissioner for Finance, Accountant General and the managers of the affected banks.

Defendants in the suit including the Speaker of the House of Assembly, EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Department of State Services (DSS), Commissioner for Finance, Accountant General and five banks doing business with state government and the managers of those banks.

The plaintiffs were represented by Barrister Ejelonu, a lawyer in the chambers of the Attorney General held brief for Ahmed Raji (SAN) who argued the motion ex parte.