An Ilorin, Kwara state based lawyer Olarewaju Aluko along with
his client Taiye Na’Allah Thursday dragged the Economic and
Financial Commission (EFCC) to a Kwara state High Court for alleged
defamation of character.
The duo are seeking redress in court and also claiming N20
million damages from the commission.
Ilorin Zonal office of the commission had on Wednesday accused
the lawyer of defrauding one Pastor Adetunji Adedoyin of his
property valued at N20million.
The EFCC also claimed that Aluko was at large following
invitation and interrogation of other lawyers reportedly involved
in the matter.
Adedoyin is also joined as, respondent in the suit, which had
been assigned to Justice Hammed Gegele, of the state High
Court.
Aluko and his client, in the suit, prayed the court to restrain
the EFCC, from inviting, arresting or prosecuting them pending
determination of motion on notice filed before the court.
The applicants in the motions on notice urged the court to
enforce an order on the agency to tender unreserved public
apologies in national dailies.
They also want the court to institute N20million damage against
EFCC over what they described as illegal, unlawful and
unconstitutional online publication.
They are also seeking that the circulation of the online
publication against them prior to invitation to react to the
petition or arraign them before any competent court is illegal,
unconstitutional and against the fundamental rights of the
applicants.
Speaking with reporters on the matter, Aluko expressed
disappointment over the operation of the anti- graft agency.
He lamented that he was not at large as claimed by the EFCC in
the report, adding that he was neither called nor invited for
interrogation before the publication went viral on social
media.
He said: “I was highly surprised and disappointed over the EFCC
operation; many people have been calling me that I have been
declared wanted over allegation of fraud in which some lawyers were
arrested.
“I have never in my life been involved in fraud. The EFCC has
never called me on phone or invited me personally or give me notice
to come to their office in respect of the allegation made by one
Engr. Adedoyin, who is now a pastor.
“I read it online and heard from friends that I am at large.
Honestly this is defamation of character and I am not going to take
it lightly.”
He explained that the purchase of the said landed property by
his client followed due process, as there was court judgment to
back it.
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RIPAN
President Abubakar Maifata and Deputy Paul Eluhaiwe
Rice Smuggling: Nigeria Risks Loss of $400m if.. as
RIPAN Backs Border Closure
Rice Processors Association of Nigeria(RIPAN) has said Nigeria
risks the loss of over $400 million to rice smuggling if the over
one million metric tonnes of the commodity is allowed to enter the
country from Benin Republic.
National Chairman of RIPAN Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Maifata and
his vice-chairman, Mr Paul Eluhaiwe disclosed this to journalists
Thursday in Abuja after an intensive border and port survey by the
association.
The RIPAN boss also said that at present, about half a million
metric tonnes of the commodity have already been booked in Thailand
for onward journey to Nigeria preparatory to the Christmas
season.
This, according to the chairman, would no doubt have a ripple
effect on rice processors in the country as their activities would
be hampered if this impending illegal importation is not checked
with the attendant colossal loss of over $400 million.
According to him, the closure of the Nigerian Benin Republic
border would go a long way to curb the menace of rice smuggling so
that local producers would have a breather, adding that the
association supports the current border closure by the
government.
Economic Confidential recalls early this year when RIPAN cried
out to the federal government that despite concrete and visible
interventions of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) via the Anchors
Borrowers Programme (ABP) on the rice sub-sector of the Nigerian
economy, over 70 percent of rice in Nigeria markets remain foreign
or imported.
RIPAN and other stakeholders had in a three-week survey on the
rice market across the six geopolitical zones in the country
observed that foreign rice such as Mama Gold, Royal Stallion, Rice
Master, Caprice, Falcon Rice and Basmati are sold alongside
Nigerian rice.
He said his association join other stakeholders in the rice
subsector, namely, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), in
commending the central bank of Nigeria(CBN) for the timely
intervention and banning of rice since 2015, a development that has
seen growth in local production of rice and serious saving of
foreign exchange.
He commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its current
and rigorous fight against smuggling of the commodity and enjoined
the various security agencies who are mandated by the current
directive to raise the bar of the fight to check the various porous
borders.