The Federal High Court has given the green light to two separate lawsuits seeking to unseat the newly appointed chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede.
The suits were filed by legal practitioners Stanley Okawara and Maxwell Opara.
The first suit, marked FHC/KN/CS/280/202, was lodged before the Division of the Court in Kano State, while the second suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1410/2023, is pending before the Abuja Division.
Justice Abdullahi Liman of the Kano court has set October 30th as the date to hear a motion on notice seeking to restrain Olukoyede, whose appointment was confirmed by the Senate on October 12th, from exercising his powers and functions or drawing salaries and emoluments as an occupant of the office until the suit is heard and determined.
Despite an ex-parte application filed by Jideobi Johnmary, the plaintiff’s lawyer, for an interim injunction against Olukoyede, Justice Liman ordered him to notify all defendants. The defendants in this case include President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and the EFCC.
The court instructed the plaintiff to add EFCC chairman Olukoyede and Secretary of the Commission Muhammad Hammajoda as 4th and 5th defendants, respectively. It also allowed for President Tinubu to be served a copy of the court process through the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN. The Senate President will be served through the clerk of the Senate.
The court has also shortened the time for all defendants to appear and file their respective processes to 15 days. The plaintiff is asking the court to determine whether Tinubu and Akpabio have constitutional powers to appoint and ratify anyone who is not a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police or equivalent to the position of EFCC chairman.