Money laundering: A’Court dismisses Kogi court’s ruling against EFCC

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has set aside the injunction granted by the Kogi State High Court restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from the investigation and prosecution of officials of the state.

The EFCC had, on Tuesday, February 7, filed a motion before the appellate court, asking for a stay of execution of the judgement of the Kogi State High Court in Suit No: HCL/696/2022 between Kogi State Government and the anti-graft agency, and others delivered on December 12, 2022, as well as the consequential order made on February 6, 2023.

However, in a unanimous judgement delivered on Thursday, May 18, the Appeal Court dismissed the preliminary objection of the Kogi State Government and also held that the ex-parte order of the trial court was “unlawful”.

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The sum of N300,000 was also awarded against the Kogi State government and its officials.

The sum of N100,000 was equally awarded against the state government for filing the “frivolous” preliminary objection and another sum of N200,000 for obtaining prejudicial ex-parte order against the EFCC.

The court further directed the Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Josiah Joe Majebi, to transfer the matter to another judge.

The Star