Former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki
In a significant development on Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed two suits filed by former Senate President Bukola Saraki, which sought to block investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the cases after a notice of discontinuance was recorded and no legal representatives appeared at the resumed hearing.
Saraki had initiated these suits in 2019 to seek judicial protection against the EFCC’s planned probe into his financial activities during his tenure as Kwara State governor from 2003 to 2011.
The suits, registered as FHC/ABJ/CS/507/2019 and FHC/ABJ/CS/508/2019, named several high-profile defendants, including the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police, the State Security Service, EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Code of Conduct Bureau.
At the start of the litigation, former Justice Taiwo Taiwo had issued an order restraining the EFCC and other respondents from proceeding with their investigations.
Saraki’s lawyer at the time argued, “The court’s injunction was necessary to protect my client’s rights pending full determination of the matter.”
However, the EFCC later challenged this order, claiming it “hampered the commission’s duty for nearly two years,” leading to a reassignment of the case to another judge.
Despite attempts to revive the suits, including an amendment allowed by Justice Inyang Ekwo in October 2024, the court ultimately struck them out for lack of diligent prosecution. Saraki’s legal team had sought to relist the cases, but no further progress was made, culminating in the recent dismissal.
This ruling marks a notable chapter in the ongoing tussle between Saraki and Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies, as the former Senate President faces scrutiny over alleged financial misconduct.
NAN
