ABUJA, Nigeria – A Federal High Court in Abuja has extended the order preventing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, and Department of State Services, DSS, from detaining Senator Abdulaziz Yari.
Justice Donatus Okorowo extended the order on Thursday, June 8, 2023, following an oral application from Yari’s counsel, Michael Aondoaka, SAN.
The development came after the attorneys for the EFCC, Gloria Ogbason, and ICPC, Kemi Odogun, requested an adjournment to file their responses to Yari’s motion.
Aondoaka confirmed that all the respondents had been served as directed by the court.
Despite acknowledging receipt of Yari’s processes on June 5, 2023, Ogbason admitted that they had yet to file a response, requesting a later date.
ICPC’s Odogun, served on June 6, 2023, also sought an adjournment, intending to show cause in line with court rules.
While Aondoaka did not oppose their requests, he sought an extension of the previous court order from June 5, 2023.
Despite the DSS, the third defendant, not being represented in court, there was proof of service on them.
Neither Obasun nor Odogun objected to Aondoaka’s request for an extension.
Justice Okorowo, adjourning the matter until June 27, 2023, extended the order barring EFCC, ICPC, and DSS from detaining Yari until the next adjourned date.
Yari, a two-term ex-governor of Zamfara, is contesting for the position of Senate president of the 10th assembly.
In a motion marked FHC/ANJ/CS/785/23, filed on June 2, 2023, Yari sought an order to prevent the respondents from arresting, detaining, or obstructing him from attending the Proclamation of the 10th Senate on June 13, 2023.
Yari argued that his aspiration had received overwhelming support from the public and senators-elect across party lines.
He alleged that some members of his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, were using the respondents to harass and threaten him with arrest on false charges.
Yari further accused the respondents of planning to violate his rights under the Constitution by threatening to detain him up to the First Sitting of the 10th Senate on June 13, 2023, without a warrant or written explanation.
If not for the order, Yari said his rights would have been breached by the respondents.
