EFCC Boss, IBRAHIM LAMORDE
An
Abuja Federal High Court on Tuesday granted an interim order stopping
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and others from arresting
Justice Gladys Olotu, who was recently dismissed by President Goodluck
Jonathan on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council.
Justice Olotu was a judge of the Abuja FHC before her compulsory retirement after the NJC found her guilty of misconduct.
The court, presided over by Justice
Adeniyi Ademola, granted the order after hearing Justice Olotu filed
through her lawyer, Okey Obikeze.
In the motion, she asked the court to
make an order directing the EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and
Other Related Offences Commission, the Inspector-General of Police, the
Code of Conduct Bureau and others to refrain from inviting,
interrogating, harassing, arresting and detaining her, pending the
hearing and determination of the substantive suit which she filed to
challenge her dismissal.
Others listed as defendants in the motion
are Centre for Network Against Corruption, a civil society organisation
which had petitioned the EFCC alleging financial improprieties against
the judge, the Attorney General of the Federation, the NJC, Mr. Justice
S.M.A Belgore, Chief Gabriel Igbenedion, Ponticelli Nigeria Limited,
Stolt Offshore Services S.A, The Vessel M.V Theo, the Owners of The
Vessel M.V Theo, Elf Nigeria Petroleum Ltd, ABC Maritime AG, The Vessel
M.V Lara and The Vessel M.V Krysia.
In an affidavit in support of the motion,
Justice Olotu averred that she had been receiving numerous threats of
arrest and detention at the instance of the respondents and that
already, the EFCC on March 18, interrogated her from 10 am to 4pm at
their office in Abuja and thereafter directed her to return on April 1.
She added that upon leaving the office of
the EFCC, the agents of the other respondents started trailing her in a
bid to arrest and detain her, and as a result, she has been avoiding
her house.
After hearing the ex parte motion,
Justice Ademola granted all the reliefs sought by Justice Olotu and
adjourned hearing on the substantive matter to April 2.Draft From Punch Magazine...
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