by Evelyn Okakwu,
A Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes commission, EFCC, to unfreeze all currently blocked accounts belonging to Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose.
The judge, Taiwo Taiwo, gave the ruling at about on Tuesday after considering the arguments of respective counsels on the matter.
The judge also said the decision of the commission to freeze the account, without considering first the arguments or opinion of Mr. Fayose on the matter, amounted to abuse of the defendant’s fundamental rights to fair hearing.
Mr. Taiwo said the act, as perpetrated by the EFCC, was illegal, wrongful and unconstitutional.
He noted that the defendant was a sitting governor who enjoys immunity as enshrined by the constitution and the decision of the EFCC to have acted as it did, amounted to a breach of the constitution.
Mr. Taiwo also ruled that the decision of the commission to freeze his account through the banks, without making Mr. Fayose a party to the process was illegal.
The spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said his commission would appeal the judgment.
“While the Commission awaits the certified copy of the ruling, it is important to point out that this order contradicts another order by Justice M. B Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos which gave the Commission the nod to freeze the accounts pending the conclusion of investigation,” Mr. Uwujaren said. “This order from a court of coordinate jurisdiction was not set aside by Justice Taiwo.
“In spite of this, the Commission has taken immediate step to appeal the order by Justice Taiwo.”
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