Matilda Omonaiye/
The Supreme Court has dismissed two appeals filed by the Attorney General of Rivers State and the Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, which sought to prevent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating former Governor Peter Odili.
In 2007, Odili obtained a perpetual injunction from the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, restraining the EFCC from investigating or arresting him, and from probing the finances of the Rivers State Government.
The EFCC later applied to the Court of Appeal for permission to challenge the Federal High Court’s decision after the statutory appeal period had elapsed. The appellate court granted the request, prompting the Rivers State Attorney General and the Speaker of the Assembly to appeal the decision at the Supreme Court.
During yesterday’s proceedings, Justice John Okoro, presiding over a five-member panel, questioned the substance of the appeal filed by the Rivers Attorney General.
The appellant’s lawyer, S. A. Somiari (SAN), explained that the case was an interlocutory appeal challenging the Court of Appeal’s decision to grant the EFCC leave to appeal the 2007 ruling.
Justice Okoro advised the parties to return to the Court of Appeal to resolve the substantive matter before approaching the Supreme Court.
Subsequently, Somiari applied to withdraw the appeal, which was dismissed without objection.
A similar ruling was issued for the appeal filed by the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
This development effectively lifts the perpetual injunction that had protected Odili from EFCC investigation, allowing the anti-graft agency to proceed with its probe into his tenure as governor.
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