EFCC Says Asaba Court Frustrating Appeal

San Francisco (THEWILL) - The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has said the Federal High Court in Asaba is frustrating its moves to appeal the ruling of Justice Marcel Awokulehin, which discharged chief James Ibori and other accused persons last week on charges bordering on money laundering.

EFCC spokesman Mr. Femi Babafemi told THEWILL in a conference call on Tuesday morning that the commission was only able to file a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal on Monday. He added that the High Court in Asaba was deliberately frustrating the issuance of a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment, which would enable them file the appeal.

“You can see our frustrations. Our lawyers have filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal on Monday but the High Court in Asaba is frustrating our efforts at getting a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment.

“This is a judgment that the judge had said was ready a month before he finally read it, claiming he would rather err on the side of caution. Can you see there is a deliberate ploy to stop the appeal?

“We have a window of seven (7) days to appeal according to the rules. We are doing everything possible to ensure we do so. Our lawyers are still at the High Court and we will get the CTC.”

When asked if the commission had made a formal complaint anywhere Babafemi said, “Is it the same judge or judiciary that is frustrating us that we will complain to? You can see what we’ve been complaining about all this while.”

With this development the EFCC has not been able to start a proper appeal process.

The commission has come under criticism over the way it has prosecuted the war against economic crimes especially with the Ibori case.

Analysts estimate that the oil rich country has lost more than 70% of its oil revenue to corrupt government officials over the years.