Court fixes judgment on Odili/EFCC to March 3

Bolaji Ogundele, Port Harcourt - 17.01.2008

Judgment on the case filed by former Rivers State governor, Dr Peter Odili, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been scheduled for March 3.

The Port Harcourt High Court also struck out the motion filed by nation’s Attorney General and Minister for Justice,Mr. Michael Aondoakaa, pleading for time, for lack of diligent prosecution.

The judge of the court, Justice Ibrahim Buba, struck the Attorney General’s name out after inquiring from counsel to the EFCC, James Binang, why counsel to the Federal Government was not in court, asking if there had been an official communication from them.

“Being no communication on why the Attorney General is not in court, the motion dated November 23, 2007 and December 6, 2007 and filed December 10, 2007 is hereby struck out for want of diligent prosecution,” Buba ordered.

The court’s decision followed application by Odili’s counsel, Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe, seeking the court to remove the AG as a defendant following lack of commitment in the matter.

The judge held that AG had not shown any interest in the matter since it was filed. Buba expressed worry that the nation’s number one law officerlacked diligence in following up such a crucial matter of corruption.

Odili had gone to court asking for orders restraining the AG and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating his activities in office as the governor between 1999 and 2007.