Photo: Justice Muhammad Lawal Shaibu
A presiding judge of the Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division, Justice Muhammad Lawal Shaibu, on Monday, tasked anti-corruption agents to focus on larger figures involved in corrupt practices rather than targeting cyber-fraudsters aka Yahoo boys.
Shaibu made this call during the opening of the Northwest Zonal Attorney General’s Anti-Corruption Forum (AGAF), organized by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC).
He shared his frustration over the continuing presence of corrupt individuals in positions of power, citing an example of a serving governor who had previously been incarcerated under his watch. He expressed disbelief at how such individuals returned to power and urged stronger collaboration between state and federal agencies.
He also criticized judges who issue ex-parte orders protecting individuals with immunity, preventing anti-corruption agents from carrying out their duties.
“People with immunity can still be invited and investigated,” he said
753 Duplexes Forfeiture, EFCC Doing PR for Criminals – Sowore
Meanwhile, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore, has called out the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for not disclosing the identity of an alleged former government official who owned the forfeited 753 units of duplexes in Abuja.
The anti-graft agency on Monday announced that Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court forfeited an Abuja estate measuring 150,500 square meters containing about 753 units of duplexes and other apartments to the government.
The commission said the forfeited property was the single largest asset recovery since its inception in 2003.
According to the EFCC, the estate, located on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, belonged to an undisclosed government official.
Reacting to EFCC’s announcement, Sowore, in a post on his official Facebook page, tackled the commission for withdrawing the identity of the property owner.
He wrote, “What is the name of the “former top brass” with 753 duplexes seized by the EFCC in Abuja?
“The @officialEFCC is now doing PR for thieves.
“They seized this large estate with 753 duplexes from a single individual in Abuja but can’t mention his or her name.”
“If it is Yahoo boys, they will line laptops and Nokia phones in front of them and send their photos globally even before their trial is commenced.
“The same EFCC is now AFRAID of BIG Thieves”. He wrote.
