The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation has the constitutional power to take over any criminal case at any stage of investigation.

Tony Orilade, the spokesman of the commission, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

Mr Orilade was reacting to the takeover of the case of alleged N25 billion fraud filed against former Gombe State Governor, Danjuma Goje by the commission.


According to Mr Orilade, by virtue of the existing law, the office of the attorney- general of the federation has the power to take over any criminal case at any stage.

“And that is exactly what has happened”.

The OAGF had on Friday taken over the case of alleged N25 billion fraud filed against Sen. Goje (APC-Gombe Central).

Mr Goje was until Thursday last week, a contender for the post of the President of the Senate.


He withdrew from the race after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari and immediately endorsed his rival Ahmad Lawan (APC-Yobe).

Section 174 (1a) of the 1999 Constitution States that the Attorney-General of the Federation shall have the power “To institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court of law in Nigeria, other than a court-martial, in respect of any offence created by or under any Act of the National Assembly.”

While subsection (1b) says “to take over and continue any such proceedings that may have been instituted by any other authority or person”.


NAN reports that for almost eight years, the EFCC had been prosecuting the former governor until Friday, June 7.

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The case, which was before Justice Babatunde Quadiri of Jos Federal High Court II, had even gone to the Jos Court of Appeal over the remaining two count charges out of 21 filed against him by EFCC.

The appellate court is yet to fix a date for the hearing of the appeal.


When the case came up for an emergency hearing before Justice Quadiri, the EFCC counsel, Wahab Shittu, told the court that the agency was withdrawing from the case and handing it over the office of the Attorney-General for continuation.

“My Lord, this case was earlier adjourned for June 20 for continuation of hearing, but then we are here today on the latest development on the matter.

“We as EFCC counsels are withdrawing from the matter and handing it over to the office of the Attorney-General for continuation with the prosecution.


“As you can see, in Court is a State Counsel from the AGF’s office to formally take over this case from us,” Shittu declared.

Responding, Paul Erokoro (SAN), did not object to the EFCC withdrawal and handing over of the case to the Attorney-General.

“My Lord we are not objecting to the anti-graft withdrawal and handing over the prosecution to the AG’s office,” Mr Erokoro said.

Pius Asika, counsel from the office of the attorney general, however, announced his appearance for the case.


Mr Asika then applied for an adjournment to enable him to prepare for the case proper “having come into the matter. (NAN)


https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/334099-why-we-withdrew-from-gojes-n25-billion-corruption-trial-efcc.html

Interesting

ladyF:
Interesting

Interesting indeed! Was the AGF take over of this case the price Goje charged for supporting Lawan?

We must watch the AGF carefully so they don't squash this case!

budaatum:

Interesting indeed! Was the AGF take over of this case the price Goje charged for supporting Lawan?

We must watch the AGF carefully so they don't squash this case!

Time will tell...

the EFCC is being clever by half.


the section of the constitution quoted clearly states such powers rest with the Attorney General of the Federation, not the Office of the Attorney General as stated by the EFCC.


it is also known (I stand to be corrected) that Malami ceased being the Attorney General as at May, 29, 2019, so on whose authority in the 'office of the attorney general', was the case taken over?


did Malami sign/order a future action on the case?


well, let's see how things pan out...

ivandragon:
the EFCC is being clever by half.


the section of the constitution quoted clearly states such powers rest with the Attorney General of the Federation, not the Office of the Attorney General as stated by the EFCC.


it is also known (I stand to be corrected) that Malami ceased being the Attorney General as at May, 29, 2019, so on whose authority in the 'office of the attorney general', was the case taken over?


did Malami sign/order a future action on the case?


well, let's see how things pan out...

Am yet to hear, "corruption is fighting back from some quarters?"

I promise you all that we won't see any registered zombie on this thread

Kwaraption fighters

.
To hell with EFCC and their childish explanations.
These people think we are all daft and dummies that can't reason.
.

now lets ask the agf and its office why they decided to take over this case and what exactly is special about it the efcc cannot handle. believe what the efcc said at your own peril!

See d kindergarten excuse dey are even giving.. Dey shld had jus gone ahead and his their head in shame instead of opening their mouth to show how stupid dey are.. How convenient dat d AGF suddenly remembered his powers ryt afta d accused dropped his presidency ambitions.

soulpeppersoup:

Am yet to hear, "corruption is fighting back from some quarters?"

lol... or that, "the judiciary is frustrating the anti corruption fight"...

ivandragon:
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation has the constitutional power to take over any criminal case at any stage of investigation.

Tony Orilade, the spokesman of the commission, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

Mr Orilade was reacting to the takeover of the case of alleged N25 billion fraud filed against former Gombe State Governor, Danjuma Goje by the commission.


According to Mr Orilade, by virtue of the existing law, the office of the attorney- general of the federation has the power to take over any criminal case at any stage.

“And that is exactly what has happened”.

The OAGF had on Friday taken over the case of alleged N25 billion fraud filed against Sen. Goje (APC-Gombe Central).

Mr Goje was until Thursday last week, a contender for the post of the President of the Senate.


He withdrew from the race after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari and immediately endorsed his rival Ahmad Lawan (APC-Yobe).

Section 174 (1a) of the 1999 Constitution States that the Attorney-General of the Federation shall have the power “To institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court of law in Nigeria, other than a court-martial, in respect of any offence created by or under any Act of the National Assembly.”

While subsection (1b) says “to take over and continue any such proceedings that may have been instituted by any other authority or person”.


NAN reports that for almost eight years, the EFCC had been prosecuting the former governor until Friday, June 7.

More in Home

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148,000 ex-PHCN workers engage law firm to press home entitlements

Major Health News Last Week

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Dasuki: Ex-AGF Malami faces disciplinary panel
The case, which was before Justice Babatunde Quadiri of Jos Federal High Court II, had even gone to the Jos Court of Appeal over the remaining two count charges out of 21 filed against him by EFCC.

The appellate court is yet to fix a date for the hearing of the appeal.


When the case came up for an emergency hearing before Justice Quadiri, the EFCC counsel, Wahab Shittu, told the court that the agency was withdrawing from the case and handing it over the office of the Attorney-General for continuation.

“My Lord, this case was earlier adjourned for June 20 for continuation of hearing, but then we are here today on the latest development on the matter.

“We as EFCC counsels are withdrawing from the matter and handing it over to the office of the Attorney-General for continuation with the prosecution.


“As you can see, in Court is a State Counsel from the AGF’s office to formally take over this case from us,” Shittu declared.

Responding, Paul Erokoro (SAN), did not object to the EFCC withdrawal and handing over of the case to the Attorney-General.

“My Lord we are not objecting to the anti-graft withdrawal and handing over the prosecution to the AG’s office,” Mr Erokoro said.

Pius Asika, counsel from the office of the attorney general, however, announced his appearance for the case.


Mr Asika then applied for an adjournment to enable him to prepare for the case proper “having come into the matter. (NAN)


https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/334099-why-we-withdrew-from-gojes-n25-billion-corruption-trial-efcc.html

last year this ex-phcn workers were happy,

sugbon

they can now see what next level is all about.