By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) remains a illegal establishment in Nigeria and should be stripped off powers to arrest and confiscate property of suspects, counsel to former pension boss, Abdulrasheed Maina has prayed.
This is part of the prayers before a Federal High Court in Kaduna, as the matter came up for hearing on Monday January 15, 2018.
The counsel, Mohammed Sani Katu argued that the regime of President Olusegun Obasanjo did not follow due process in establishing the EFCC, hence, all actions taken by the commission since 2004 be declared null and void.
In an interview with newsmen outside the court room, Barrister Solomon Utuagha who spoke on behalf of the plaintiff’s counsel, expressed confidence that on resumption of hearing on the adjourned date, the matter would make progress.
He said that their client’s staff and family members were being intimidated by the respondents, a development which makes them seek speedy dispensing of the matter.
On his part, counsel to EFCC, Chile Okoronma, who earlier in court said he had not been served rightly, insisted that he be served before the matter can proceed.
While speaking to newsmen, he expressed confidence that the commission was lawfully established and claimed to be in possession of documents signed by the clerk of the National Assembly to prove same.
Another respondent, the Attorney General of the Federation, represented by the Chief State Counsel, Tijanni Alhaji Gazali, while fielding questions from newsmen, said he was comfortable with the adjournment of the matter to February 8, 2018.
