EFCC challenges Governor Tambuwal’s decision to grant pardon to 5 accused persons

macfranc007 September 25, 2017 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Kess Ewubare

- EFCC files an appeal against a judgment discharging 5 accused persons facing criminal proceedings

- The anti-graft agency accuses John Binns of BCL Solicitors of blocking moves by the agency to interrogate Diezani Alison-Madueke

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has challenged the decision of Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state to grant pardon to five accused persons who were facing criminal prosecution.

The commission on Monday, September 25, filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Sokoto division, challenging the Judgment delivered by the Sokoto State High in respect of pardon granted by the Governor of Sokoto to the five accused persons charged alongside the former governor of the state, Attahiru Bafarawa.

The court action by the EFCC followed a June 29 judgment by Justice Bello Abbas of the Sokoto state High Court which discharged the five accused persons.

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The judgment was given in respect to a motion filed by the respondents seeking to be discharged from further criminal proceedings based on a pardon granted to them by the Sokoto state governor.

Meanwhile EFCC has accused John Binns of BCL Solicitors of blocking moves by the agency to interrogate Diezani Alison-Madueke, immediate past minister of petroleum resources, in the United Kingdom.

The EFCC said the lawyer refused to allow the commission’s team of investigators, led by Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, to meet with Diezani in the UK earlier in March this year.

The former minister has been staying in the UK since 2015 when investigation into her tenure began. The EFCC stated this in a counter-affidavit filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Punch reports that the EFCC’s counter-affidavit was in response to a motion filed by the former minister, seeking an amendment to the heading of the charges filed against a businessman, Mr. Olajide Omokore, and five others by adding her name to the list of defendants so that she could defend herself in respect of allegations against her in one of the nine counts.

In the video below, the EFCC organised a march tagged ‘walk against corruption’ in the Federal Capital Territory.