Absence of judge stalls Pinnacle’s N1b suit against ICPC, others

The absence of Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court Abuja, has stalled hearing of a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/779/18, which was filed by Pinnacle Communications Ltd (PCL) against the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), and Zenith Bank Plc.

No reason was given for the judge’s absence, however, the court’s registrar said the matter was rescheduled to October 8 for hearing.

PCL had in July 2018, dragged ICPC to court for unlawfully withholding its money domicile in Zenith bank without a valid court order.

By the suit, the plaintiff is claiming N1billion against the anti graft agency as damages. Specifically, the claimant is seeking “a declaration that the act of the 1st defendant in ordering the 3rd defendant to place a “post-no-debit” restrictions on the plaintiff’s account with the 3rd defendant without any court order and or any valid court order is ultra vires, unlawful, injurious, unconstitutional and a breach of the plaintiff’s right to its movable property.

The plaintiff is also seeking, “a declaration that the act of the 2nd defendant in placing a “post-no-debit” restrictions on the plaintiffs account number 1012875804 with the 3rd defendant without any court order and or any valid order is unlawful, injurious, unconstitutional and a breach of the plaintiff’s right to its movable property.

The claimant is also asking for an order for the payment of the N1billion as general, exemplary and punitive damages against the defendant for their unlawful and illegal act.

It would be recalled that Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court Abuja had on December 14, 2018, ordered the ICPC, to unfreeze the account of the claimant domiciled with Zenith bank.

Justice Dimgba held that the action of ICPC was unlawful, illegal and therefore null and void.