EFCC challenges court jurisdiction in $9.7m recovered from Yakubu

The Abuja Federal High Court lacks the jurisdiction to hear and determine the fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed by the former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Andrew Yakubu, so declared the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

EFCC is challenging the suit on the ground that the alleged breach of fundamental rights of the applicant happened in Kano State.Counsel to the EFCC, Johnson Ojogbane, in a preliminary objection to the applicant’s originating summons, urged the court to discountenance the suit.

When the matter came up yesterday before Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed, counsel to the applicant (Yakubu), Ahmed Raji (SAN), told the court his client has been in the custody of the EFCC since February 8, 2017.

He asked the court to take into cognizance that Yakubu was abroad receiving treatment when he was invited to Nigeria by the EFCC for questioning and has since been detained. The court adjourned the matter to March 14, 2017.