Keyamo to Appeal as Court Awards Atiku, ICPC N10m in ‘Frivolous’ Lawsuit

Former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has stated that he’ll make an appeal on the N10 million fine that was awarded against him in a suit he filed for the probe of the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Also, contained in the suit is the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja handed the fine to Keyamo on Monday.

Omotosho ordered that N5 million each be paid in favour of Abubakar and the Independent Corrupt Practises and Other Related Offences Commission.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/84/2023 was regarded as “frivolous, vexatious, and an abuse of court processes,” and should be paid at 10 per cent per annum until the cost is finally liquidated.”

A statement issued by John Ainetor (Esq), Assistant Head of Festus Keyamo Chambers, Abuja Office, read, “Earlier today, a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the case filed by Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, against the candidate of the PDP in the last Presidential Election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar over the SPV saga principally because the court was of the opinion that the law-enforcement agencies were not given enough time to commence investigations before the suit was filed, amongst other sundry reasons.

“Our client respectfully disagrees with the reasons for the said decision because the law-enforcement agencies did not indicate their willingness to commence investigations, even if they were given more time. We want to establish a legal principle that the society cannot wait as infinitum for law-enforcement agencies to do their statutory duties.”

“The suit was designed to prompt the agencies to show their readiness to investigate. We are immediately filing an appeal against the said decision to the Court of Appeal as the struggle on this issue continues.”