$40million fraud: Court strike out suit against EFCC filed by Goodluck Jonathan's cousin Azibola

Justice Candid Johnson of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere today, June 21, struck out a motion filed against the EFCC by Azibola Robert, a cousin of the former President Goodluck Jonathan, asking the court to restrain the Commission from arresting, detaining or investigating him. The motion was struck out on grounds of lacking diligent prosecution.

In the motion, Azibola requested for an order nullifying and setting aside the remand order obtained by the EFCC to remand him, an order directing the Commission to release him from custody, an order of perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC or any person whatsoever acting for/on behalf of the Commission from arresting or detaining him and demand of special damages in the sum of N200, 000,000 (Two Hundred Million Naira Only). Azibola is being investigated by the EFCC for suspicious contracts awarded to him by the former National Security Adviser to former President, Goodluck Jonathan.

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The investigation revealed that between 2012 and 2015, Colonel Sambo Dasuki allegedly awarded fictitious contracts to the tunes of N2,219,188,609.50 ( Two Billion, Two Hundred and Nineteen Million, One Hundred and Eighty Eight Thousand, Six Hundred and Nine Naira, Fifty Kobo), $1,671,742,613.58 (One Billion, Six Hundred Seventy One Million, Seven Hundred and Forty Two Thousand, Six Hundred and Thirteen Dollars Fifty Eight Cents) and €9,905,477.00 (Nine Million, Nine Hundred and Five Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy Seven Euros) respectively to Azibola and his companies and proxies. Also the sums of $40 million and N650 million was said to have been traced in the bank account of Azibola as moneies paid by the former NSA.

It would be recalled that Azibola made similar motion before Abuja High Court and same was dismissed by Honourable Justice O.O Goodluck of Abuja High Court. He later filed two separate motions before Honourable Justice C.M.A Olatoregun of the Federal High Court Lagos and Justice Candid Johnson of the Lagos High Court.

Credit:Linda Ikeji