Federal Government has lost a lawsuit to recover a sum of 70 trillion naira allegedly stashed in 29 bank accounts by corrupt political officeholders.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Lagos has struck out the Federal Government’s suit stating that the Federal Government’s lawyers did not diligently prosecute the case.
The suit marked, FHC/L/CS/968/2021 had the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney-General of the Federation/ Minister of Justice as the plaintiffs/applicants with 17 commercial banks, Nigerian Agip Oil Company Ltd and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation as defendants/respondents in the suit.
READ ALSO: Court Of Appeal Rejects Bail Request Of Abba Kyari’s Associate
FG had in August 2021 obtained an interim order from Justice Tijani Ringim for the forfeiture of the N70tn.
The case was later transferred to Justice Lifu, who in 2022, vacated the interim order, following FG’s failure to meet the terms of the order.
Delivering judgment on the substantive suit on Tuesday, Justice Lifu held that since the vacation of the interim order “it has been back and forth, with various excuses, applications for adjournment at the instance of the plaintiffs/applicants counsel, Mohammed Ndarani (SAN).
READ ALSO: Two To Sweep Court Premises For Two Months
“From all indications, the instant case has clearly lost its stance as the plaintiffs/applicants seem not to be interested in the matter any longer, having failed consistently to be present in court since December 9, 2021.
“The chambers of Femi Falana that just filed a Notice of Change of Counsel on the last adjourned date has suddenly withdrawn appearance today.”
The judge wondered that FG’s lawyers,from Ndarani to Falana “suddenly developed cold feet over this alleged public interest case”.
“Going through the originating process filed by Mohammed Ndarani, (SAN), which is no longer extant as the ex parte order was set aside on May 27, 2022, there is nothing left again for this court to adjudicate upon.
“In the circumstances of this case, therefore, the application of the learned counsel for NNPC, M. T. Danzaki, and Access Bank Plc, I. S. Etefia, succeeds.
“This case is hereby struck out for want of diligent prosecution and I make no order as to cost.”
Trending video of the day;
Photo Credit: Getty
