A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday fixed May 9 for hearing in a N1 billion suit filed by Olu Agunloye, former minister of power and steel under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the date after EFCC’s lawyer, Abba Mohammed, sought an adjournment to enable him regularise his processes before the court.
When the matter was called for report of service, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF), who is the second defendant in the suit, was not represented in court.
Justice Nwite then asked Agunloye’s counsel Adeola Adedipe if the AGF had been served and he responded affirmatively.
The senior lawyer told the court that though the EFCC filed a motion to regularise their processes, he was not opposing the application.
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Mohammed, however, applied that the court file be given to him to verify if their processes were in the court record but Adedipe objected to the request.
“I object to that my lord. I have never seen such practice before where a court file is shown to a party,” he said.
Adedipe further argued that since the case was ripe for hearing, he sought the leave of court to proceed on the matter if the anti-graft agency’s lawyer had no defence.
But Mohammed prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him put things in order.
The judge, who adjourned the matter until May 9 for hearing, directed that the hearing notice be served on the second defendant.
On March 1, Agunloye filed the suit against EFCC over allegations that the commission published his name on its website as someone wanted.
He wants the court to grant him N1 billion in general damages.
