BEVERLY HILLS, September 18, (THEWILL) – The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Federal High Court, Abuja, for an order seeking to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and prosecute allegations of budget padding and abuse of office levelled against the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara.
Filed on behalf of the Human Right group by its Solicitor Femi Falana (SAN), SERAP is also demanding that the EFCC should investigate the Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun; the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor; and the Chief Whip, Hassan Ado Doguwa.”
The suit, with number FHC/ABJ/CS/733/16, dated September 15, 2016, was filed in pursuant to Order 34, Rules 1 (1) (A); 2, Rule 3 (1) and (2) (A), (B) and (C) of the Federal High Court Rules, 2009 and the inherent jurisdiction of the Honourable Court.
The two reliefs sought by the group from the court against EFCC are “a declaration that the failure of the respondent (EFCC) to investigate allegations of budget padding and abuse of office levelled against Dogara, Lasun, Ogor; and Ado is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates Section 6 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004.”
The organisation is also asking the court for “an order of mandamus compelling the respondent to investigate allegations of budget padding and abuse of office levelled against Dogara and others.”
In the affidavit in support of its prayer to the court for an order of mandamus SERAP stated that the suit was borne out of the fact that it is the statutory responsibility of the EFCC to investigate and prosecute financial crimes in the country.
“This matter is presently generating a lot of public concern and discourse and is presently in the front burner of national discourse thus germane to Nigerians. By the nature of the case, it ought to be heard urgently. It is in the interest of justice to hear this matter expeditiously,” the group declared.
Story by David Oputah
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