The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted a leave allowing a civil society organisation, Kingdom Rights Foundation International (KHRFI) to commence a suit against the minister of state for petroleum resources, Ibe Kachikwu.
The court in its order made on Wednesday, October 10 by Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo said KHRFI can begin its suit on allegations of money laundering, operation of a foreign bank account, corruption and assets declaration irregularities against Kachikwu.
KHRFI in an ex parte application filed on August 23, 2018, had sought the court’s leave to commence a suit seeking Kachikwu’s probe.
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The minister in the suit was charged alongside the ministry of petroleum resources, the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN).
The organisation prayed the court to conduct a judicial review of the administrative action/inaction of the defendants to perform their constitutional and statutory mandates and obligations in connection with the investigation and prosecution of Kachikwu.
Also, lawyer to the plaintiff, Okere Nnamdi, in a fresh application sought leave of the court to commence the suit on October 10.
Punch reports that Justice Ogunbanjo while granting the leave said: “Leave is granted to the plaintiff/applicant to commence action for judicial review of administrative action/inaction to perform their constitutional and statutory mandate and obligation under section 174(1), (2), and (3) of the 1999 Constitution, sections 3 and 24 (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, CAP C15, Laws of the Federation 2004, and in section 5(1) of the EFCC Act, to investigate and prosecute Dr Ibe Emmanuel Kachikwu, on allegations of money laundering, operation of foreign bank account while occupying a public office, corruption, false declaration of assets, perjury and abuse of office, contrary to the Code of Conduct for Public Officers provided under paragraphs 1, 2 and 11(1) and (2) of the Fifth Schedule, Part I of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”
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Justice Ogunbanjo also made an order deeming the plaintiff’s originating summons (the main suit) filed alongside the ex parte as “properly filed under Order 34 Rule 5(1) of the rules of the court.”
He however declined to grant the applicant’s request that Kachikwu should be served with the court papers through “the most senior staff member in the registry of any staff member of the ministry" but personally.
The judge further adjourned the matter to Wednesday, October 24, for a report of service on the suits.
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that a group had warned Nigerians to desist from blackmailing the minister of state for petroleum resources.
The group, Accountability Vanguard said the attempt by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and some Nigerians to blackmail Kachikwu is condemnable.
The group also said the NNPC has only failed to address the issues raised by the minister in his protest letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.
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Source: Naija.ng