Supreme Court Lambasts EFCC’s Lawyer Over Incompetent Application

BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The Supreme Court on Wednesday took a swipe at the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Rotimi Jacobs SAN, for filing an incompetent application in the appeal that emanated from false assets declaration suit brought against the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Saraki by the federal government.

Jacobs in his three applications before the Apex Court challenging the ruling of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), and the Court of Appeal failed to file appropriate exhibits of the two lower courts along with other processes he filed in the court.

Apparently angered by the development at the resumed hearing of the appeal, the presiding justice, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed told Jacobs, who is also representing the Federal Government, that the court is disappointed that a lawyer of his standing could file such an incompetent application knowing what the extant rules of the court are before such applications are filed.

Justice Mohammed said, “This court is disappointed that a lawyer of your standing should file such an incompetent application. The Supreme Court did not expect such an application from him.”

The EFCC’s counsel had earlier told the court that the exhibits were part of the records of the court filed, but he was told in plain language that it is an untenable excuse as he ought to know better the rules of governing the practice of the court.

Jacobs later accepted and acknowledged the errors of the application and pleaded to be allowed to file the necessary affidavits with the exhibits.

Following his plea, Justice Mohammed gave him 24 hours within which to file the correct affidavits with the exhibits.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court adjourned hearing in the appeal indefinitely saying that Counsels on both sides would be communicated on the next hearing date.

Senator Saraki had through his counsel Mr Kanu Agabi SAN, approached the Supreme Court to set aside part of the Court of Appeal’s decision which ordered him to defend 3 out of the 18-count charge on false assets declaration brought against him by the Federal Government.

The Court of Appeal had partly upheld the decision of the Danladi Yakubu Umar-led Code of Conduct Tribunal by nullifying 15 out of the 18-count charge against the Senate President for being frivolous and unsustainable.

Saraki in his appeal is praying the Apex Court to uphold the decision of the Code of Conduct Tribunal made in his favour by nullifying and setting aside the entire 18 count charges against him.

But, the Federal Government, in its cross appeal filed through Mr. Rotimi Jacobs SAN, is praying the court to restore the entire 18-count charge against Saraki on the ground that both the CCT and Court of Appeal erred in law in arriving at their decisions.