The Government of Kogi State has dragged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to court over allegations that it fixed ₦19.3 billion bailout funds received from the Federal Government.
This is just as Justice J. J. Majebi of a Kogi State High Court also granted an interim injunction restraining the anti-graft agency from issuing further official or unofficial publications over the issue involving the bank account or any other account purportedly belonging to Kogi State Government.
The state Accountant-General, Momoh Jibrin and Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Mukadam Asiru, were claimants in the suit, while the EFCC, a new generation bank and Central Bank of Nigeria were listed as defendants.
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The government is demanding ‘the sum of ₦35 billion only as damages against the 1st defendant for the defamatory publication, titled, ‘Hidden ₦19.3 bn Kogi salary bailout funds returned to CBN’ made on November 19, 2021 on the agency’s Facebook page containing amongst others, allegations of ₦19.3 billion being returned from Kogi State bailout account, which portrays fraud and misappropriation of public fund against the claimant.’
The Motion on Notice shall be heard on December 17, 2021, according to the Court.
The High Court granted the following: ‘An interim injunction restraining the 1st Defendant/Respondents, its allies, agents, representatives, associates or whoever is acting for them or through them from doing anything either by way of publication or print or electronic media or issuing any official or unofficial publication in any print or electronic media, including online publication on its website or social media, both locally and internationally, with respect to the issues involving Account No. 0073572696 or any other account purportedly belonging to the 1st Claimant/Applicant domiciled with any bank registered and operating in Nigeria pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injuction.
‘An interim injunction restraining the 1st Defendant/Respondent, its allies, agents, representatives, associates or whoever is acting for them or through them from doing anything either by inviting officials of the 1st Claimant or requesting for any document with respect to the issue involving Account No 0073572696 or any other account purportedly belonging to the 1st Claimant/Applicant domiciled with any bank registered and operating in Nigeria or otherwise relating to or pertaining to the affairs of the 1st Claimant whatsoever or its employees, appointees or associates pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injuction.’
The plaintiff asked the Court to declare that the publication by the EFCC containing, amongst others, allegations of ₦19.3 billion being returned was defamatory of the Kogi State government.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK