I served EFCC with court processes, says lawyer involved in suit seeking Oshiomhole’s arrest

West Idahosa, counsel to Osadolor Ochei, an Edo-based activist,
says he served the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
with court processes of the suit seeking the arrest of Adams
Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress
(APC).

Ochei had filed an application at the federal high court in
Abuja seeking the arrest and prosecution of Oshiomole for alleged
diversion of state funds to personal use while he was the governor
of Edo state between 2008 and 2016.

The suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/628/, filed by Idahosa on behalf of the
plaintiff, has Oshiomole and the EFCC as first and second
respondents respectively.

In his ruling on October 9, Anwuli Chikere, presiding judge of
the federal high court in Abuja, ordered Oshiomhole and the EFCC be
served with court processes within five days.

When the suit was heard on October 23, Oshiomhole’s lawyers were
represented in court but the anti-graft agency’s counsels were not
there.

Wilson Uwajaren, EFCC spokesman, later said the commission
failed to show up because the plaintiff did not serve the
commission with processes.

“The Commission frowns at the attempt by counsel to the
plaintiff, West Idahosa, to mislead the court with claims that the
Commission had been served,” the statement read in part.

“Had the Commission been served, it would have been in court.
Ours is an agency that holds the judiciary in high esteem and we
will never disregard summons by courts of competent jurisdiction.
The truth is that the Commission did not receive any summons.”

However, Idahosa insisted he served the EFCC with the motion on
notice on October 11.

He presented an affidavit of service to buttress his claim. The
affidavit was signed by the commissioner for oath at the federal
high court in Abuja.

Idahosa said there is an attempt to rubbish his image though
there is evidence that he served the commission with the
notice.

Uwujaren could not be reached on Friday evening as his telephone
line was out of reach.