Activist Drags EFCC To Court Over Failure To Prosecute Ex-Gov Oshiomhole

A Benin-based activist and anti-corruption crusader, Bishop Osadolor Ochei has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja for an order of mandamus compelling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to commence criminal proceedings against former Edo state governor, Adams Aliu Oshiomhole on alleged corruption.

An ex-parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/628/2018 praying the court to order EFCC to put Oshiomole on trial followed the Bishop’s petition to the EFCC, dated October 28, 2016 ‎against Oshiomhole, who was governor of Edo state from November 2008 to November 11, 2016.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is the first respondent while Oshiomhole who is currently gunning for All Progressive Congress (APC) National Chairmanship position is the second.

The applicant had alleged EFCC’s refusal to attend to a well detailed Petition he (Bishop Osadolor) forwarded to them (1st Respondent) dated 28th October, 2016 and published in the Daily Sun Newspaper of 7th November, 2016, together with other national newspapers, bothering on economic and financial crimes against the immediate past governor.

The applicant, in the motion filed on Wednesday wants the court to declare that the anti-graft agency has the statutory duty to investigate and prosecute the former governor, upon his allegations against him in line with Act establishing the commission.

In an affidavit deposed personally by the applicant, he averred that, in view of the fact that corruption has become a societal ill which has eaten deep into the fabric of the society, there is the need for the EFCC to take complaints against corrupt practices serious.

He said he has severally complained to the EFCC about allegation of corrupt practices against Oshiomhole without eliciting any response or interest by the commission.

According to him, “On May 4, 2012, one Matthew Edaghese sent a petition to the EFCC, complaining that while serving as governor, Oshiomhole built mansions on a huge expanse of land worth more than N10 billion, in excess of the former governor’s legitimate means of income as governor.

”That EFCC did nothing about the petition”, Bishop Ochei stated and added that he had, in 2016 filed a petition against Oshiomhole’s corrupt practices without any action by the EFCC.

He accused the former governor of corruptly enriching himself with the fund of the Edo state government.

Meanwhile no date has yet been fixed for hearing of the ex-parte motion by the chief judge of the federal high court, Justice Abdul Kafarati.