New twist as businessman sues Saraki, 10 other senators over Magu’s rejection

A Lagos based businessman, Mr. Raji Rasheed Oyewumi, has sued Senate President Bukola Saraki and 10 other senators over the recent rejection of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, by the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

Oyewumi in the suit is asking the Federal High Court Abuja, to nullify the screening of Magu by the Senate and as well declare that Saraki and 10 other senators being investigated by the EFCC ought not to have joined in the screening of Magu.

According to the businessman, based on conflict of interest , the court should disqualify Saraki and the 10 senators from further participating in the screening of Magu.

Other defendants along Saraki in the matter are senators Godswill Akpabio, Jonah Jang, Aliyu Wammako, Stella Oduah, Theodore Orji, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Ahmed Sani, Danjuma Goje, Joshua Dariye and Adamu Abdullahi.

Also joined in the suit are the Clerk to the National Assembly, the Senate, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Acting EFCC chairman.

Among other reliefs, the plaintiff through his counsel, Mr. Inibehe Effiong, sought for “an order to set aside the screening, votes, proceeding and resolutions of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (the 13th Defendant/ Respondent) of Wednesday, 15th March, 2017 as they relate to the nomination or appointment of Mr. Ibrahim Mustapha Magu (the 15th Defendant/Respondent) for the position of chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“A declaration that the 1st Defendant is disqualified by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the Senate Standing Orders, 2015 (as amended) from presiding over or participating in the deliberation, screening and voting on the nomination of the 15th Defendant for the position of chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission due to the apparent conflict of interest arising from the 15th Defendant’s active role in his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

“An order of injunction restraining the 1st Defendant from presiding over or participating in the screening, deliberation and voting on the nomination of the 15th Defendant for the position of Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“An order of injunction restraining the 2nd to the 11th Defendants from participating in the screening, deliberation and voting on the nomination of the 15th Defendant for the position of Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.”

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