Fresh motion stalls ex- FCT minister’s N100m suit against EFCC
NAN-H-51
Motion
By Edith Nwapi
Abuja, May 24, 2017 (NAN) A motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stalled the hearing of a substantive suit in an Abuja High Court, Maitama, filed by Sen. Bala Mohammed for enforcement of fundamental rights.
Mohammed, former FCT Minister under ex- President Goodluck Jonathan, was in the custody of the EFCC for weeks, following petitions against him over contract awards.
He filed a Motion on Notice on Nov. 16, through his counsel, Mr Chris Uche (SAN), before Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, for enforcement of his fundamental human rights which EFCC allegedly violated.
He also sought the order of the court for EFCC to release him on bail and also to award N100 million damages against EFCC.
The court had earlier granted him bail.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Mr Chris Uche (SAN), Mohammed’s counsel, told the court that the matter was for hearing on the substantive suit, on the enforcement of his client’s right.
He said that they filed the motion on Nov. 18, 2016, since then, they have waited and did not receive any response from the EFCC.
He told the court that the respondent served them further counter affidavit this morning, which was not on the substantive suit, but on the bail application.
Mr Ransonmate Ezekiel, the prosecuting counsel, told the court that they filed counter affidavits on Nov 24, Dec. 13 and a further and better counter affidavit which was filed on May 23.
He said that it was based on the three different court remand orders given by court in relation to the bail.
Uche in his response, told the court that it was clear that the respondent does not have any other counter affidavit, “except the one he served on us now.
“But we will quickly react by asking for a date to enable us look at the process.
Ezekiel did not oppose the application, while the judge adjourned the case until June 9 for further hearing. (NAN)
NEO/OU
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Edited by Obike Ukoh
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