Azeez Folorunso/
The Akwa Ibom State government has bowed out of the N50 billion suit filed against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following investigation of the anti-graft agency into financial transactions of the state.
The application to withdraw the matter was moved today by the Attorney General of the state before Justice Fatun Odohi Riman of Akwa Ibom State High Court.
According to the suit marked FHC/UY/CS/137/2018, the claimant is seeking the reliefs on the ground that anti-graft agency’s investigation of the state accounts, especially freezing of the said accounts is an abuse of court processes.
The government backed out of the suit, having reviewed the merit of their claim against the anti-graft agency.
The state government had sued EFCC seeking, among others, an order of freezing the account of the state.
Upon service of the statement of claim on the Commission, the EFCC through its counsel Rotimi Oyedepo filed a statement of defence showing how the treasury of the state was looted and the proceeds of the stealing diverted to an account of a firm belonging to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Paul Usoro & Co.
In its defence, the EFCC also told the Court how the current president of the Nigerian Bar Association President’s law firm Paul Usoro and Co transferred N65 million Naira to the personal account of the Attorney General of the State, Mr Uwemedimo Thomas Nwoko.
On the receipt of the defence of the EFCC and at the resumed hearing of the matter today for trial, the counsel to the State Government, Mr Assam E Assam, informed the Court of its Notice of discontinuance filed today and prayed the Court to strike the suit out.
The EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, thereafter prayed the court to dismiss the suit and award a cost of N1million.
Justice Fatun Odohi Riman struck out the suit and awarded a cost of N10,000 against the state government.