The Lagos State government has dismissed reports that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged plan to arrest and prosecute him after his tenure.
The state government disclosed this in a release signed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for the Ministry of Justice, Lagos State, Lawal Pedro (SAN).
In the release titled: “REBUTTAL: “SANWO-OLU SUES EFCC OVER ALLEGED PLAN TO ARREST, PROSECUTE HIM AFTER TENURE”, Pedro stated that Sanwo-Olu never, at any point, instructed any lawyer to file a suit against the EFCC over any move to arrest him.
“Our attention has been drawn to the news circulating in a section of the media, titled: ‘Sanwo-Olu Sues EFCC over alleged plan to arrest, prosecute him after tenure,’” Pedro said in the release.
“We need to clarify that Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at no time, sued or briefed any legal practitioner to file a suit on his behalf concerning the above subject matter.
“Also, it is disingenuous for the Governor, who enjoys immunity as conferred on him by the Constitution and has almost three years left in office, to brief any lawyer on this kind of matter.”
The Attorney General stated that, to the best of his knowledge and following his inquiry, the EFCC is not investigating the governor, nor has it ever invited him or threatened the arrest of any of his staff, domestic or otherwise. He added that they are currently investigating how the case came to be filed without their knowledge.
Pedro stressed that Sanwo-Olu has been exemplary in service delivery and the prudent management of public resources.
He noted that Sanwo-Olu, who is working diligently to improve the living conditions of Lagosians, has nothing to fear when he leaves office at the end of his tenure in May 2027.
He further advised media organizations to be cautious about the type of reports they publish on their platforms to avoid misleading the public.
According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, Sanwo-Olu had allegedly filed a lawsuit through his lawyer, Darlington Ozurumba, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The initial lawsuit, reportedly filed in June, aims to prevent the EFCC from taking action against him for alleged misconduct after his tenure, according to NAN, the federal government-owned news agency.
It added that when the matter came up for mention on Tuesday, the plaintiff’s lawyer informed the court of an amended originating summons. However, EFCC counsel Hadiza Afegbua stated that she had not yet reviewed the updated documents, prompting Justice Abdulmalik to adjourn the case until November 11.
NAN reported that in the original summons, Sanwo-Olu sought declarations affirming his constitutional rights to private and family life, ownership of property, and protection from arbitrary arrest or detention, arguing that the EFCC’s alleged actions violated these rights.
The news agency added that Sanwo-Olu also requested an injunction to prevent the EFCC from harassing or arresting him, seizing his property, freezing his accounts, or detaining family members and aides, claiming that the agency’s actions were politically motivated and aimed at discrediting him.
An affidavit by Martha Kanu, a litigation secretary at the law firm representing Sanwo-Olu, alleged that the EFCC was pressuring aides and contractors to provide incriminating statements against the Governor.
