Saraki: EFCC distances self from Judge’s Withdrawal

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has distanced itself from the decision by Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The judge declined ruling in the fundamental human rights enforcement case brought before him by Senate President, Bukola Saraki. 

Spokesman of the agency, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said last night that the commission had no idea of the source of the information as it did not give out same at any time.

Federal High Court Judge, Abdul Kafarati withdrew from Saraki’s case, returning the case file to Chief Judge.

Justice Kafarati said his integrity had been maligned by the reports and the honourable thing for him to do was to disqualify himself from the case

The judge quoted copiously online reports and said he had been caught between two devils.

“If I grant the prayers of the applicant, the reading public will say yes, the judge has been compromised. 

“If I refuse the prayers, they will say the judge has been threatened or intimidated.

“The most honourable thing for me to do is to disqualify myself from this case. 

“I hereby disqualify myself from this case and the file is returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for re-assignment.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Government reacted to the decision through its lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).

FG had during the hearing of Saraki’s suit before Justice Abdu-Kafarati, urged the court resist the temptation of overruling the Supreme Court.

He urged him not to go ahead and stall the Senate President’s trial before the CCT.

Jacobs urged Justice Abdu-Kafarati to dismiss the suit which he said was not fit to be instituted under the fundamental human rights enforcement proceedings.

The lawyer, while arguing his notice of preliminary objection, accused the Senate President of raising the issue of violation of his rights to fair hearing in order to escape trial.

“The issue of malicious prosecution raised by the applicant cannot come under fundamental human rights proceedings,” Jacobs said.

He contended that the suit by Saraki was an abuse of court process.

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