EFCC Withdraws Suit Against Obasa

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has withdrawn an alleged money laundering suit filed against the Speaker of La­gos State House of Assembly, Honourable Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa.

Following the agency’s withdrawal of the suit, Jus­tice Nicholas Oweibo, had consequently, discharged the ‘lien/Post No Debit’ placed on Obasa’s three accounts in Standard Chartered bank, and set aside the Ex-parte Or­ders made September 15, 2020, which led to the frozen of the accounts.

The court had on Septem­ber 15, 2020, in the interim freezed the accounts belong­ing to Obasa, following an Ex­parte motion marked FHC/ LCS/1064/2020, filed by the EFCC.

Obasa’s accounts freezed by the court were: (US Dol­lars) 0001852063; (Current) 0001852056and (Saving) 5002309624.

Justice Oweibo, on August 16, 2023, had heard the applica­tion to unfreeze the accounts in the Chamber.

During the hearing of the matter, the EFCC was rep­resented by Mr. Sulaiman I. Sulaiman, while Honourable Obasa was represented by A. Olumide-Fusika, a Senior Ad­vocate of Nigeria (SAN).

The EFCC lawyer had told the court that the application to unfreeze the accounts was pursuant to Section 44(2)(K) of the Constitution of The Federal Republic of NIGE­RIA, 1999 (as amended) and Sections 26, 29 and 34 (1) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.

Justice Oweibo after tak­en arguments from counsel, held that: “upon reading through the affidavit in sup­port of Motion on Notice and with the Exhibits attached therein, deposed to by Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, Male, Nigerian, Adult, Leg­islator of Lagos State House of Assembly Complex, Alau­sa, tkeja, Lagos and a Writ­ten Address dated 1st day of August, 2023 and filed at this Court Registry on the on 2nd day of August, 2023.