Asset forfeiture: Again, Federal High Court Refuses To Hear EFCC's Stay of Execution Application against Yahaya Bello

Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday, refused to entertain an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, seeking a stay of execution of the ruling that lifted a forfeiture order on some assets linked to the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello. 

The judge adjourned the hearing of the application indefinitely because the matter is now before the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal. 

Justice Oweibo had, on April 26, 2023, struck out a suit by the EFCC seeking the final forfeiture of the properties on the grounds of provisions of Section 308(1) of the Constitution. 

The Judge had held that “given Section 308 of the Constitution, which provides immunity to a sitting governor from any civil/ criminal prosecution, the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the matter”, and the suit was struck out. 

When the matter was called on Monday, the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), informed the court that he had filed an application dated April 27, 2023, seeking a stay of execution of the ruling pending the outcome of the appeal on the case. 

But in his response, counsel to the Kogi State governor, Akoh Ocheni, asked the court to strike out the application because the anti-graft agency failed to comply with the rules of the court, which mandates it to file a written address along with the application. 

Ocheni also informed the court that the matter was now before the Court of Appeal as records of proceedings have been transmitted to the upper court. 

He argued that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to continue to hear the application. 

After listening to the lawyers, Justice Oweibo adjourned the matter sine die to await the appellate court's decision. 

The judge had earlier on February 22, granted a temporary forfeiture order following an exparte motion filed by the EFCC seeking to seize 14 properties located in Lagos, Abuja and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

Governor Bello, however, filed a Notice of Intention to oppose and an application seeking the vacation of the interim forfeiture order. 

The Governor, through his lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed (SAN), also argued that the property listed were not proceeds of unlawful acts, as they were acquired long before he was elected as Kogi State Governor and could not have been received from Kogi State funds. 

He further submitted that the case was in flagrant disobedience to a state high court order, which restrained the Economic or government agency from taking action that may lead to the forfeiture of the properties. 

He added that the interim forfeiture order was obtained by either suppression or misrepresenting facts by the Commission. 

The governor also said that the proceeding of the Crime Act could not take effect in retrospect as the property in dispute was acquired before he became Kogi state governor. 

He said the validity of the Crime Act is being challenged at the Supreme Court. 

In his response, the counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), maintained that the applicant had placed sufficient materials before the court to convince the court to vacate the order. 

The judge held that given Section 308 of the Constitution, which provides immunity to a sitting governor from any civil/criminal prosecution, the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter. 

The court, therefore, struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction.