A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking the sack of Ola Olukoyede as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
News About Nigeria reports that Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a judgement, dismissed the suit on the grounds that the applicant lacked locus standi (legal right) to institute the case.
An Abuja-based legal practitioner, Mr. Victor Opatola, had filed the suit against President Bola Tinubu over his appointment of Olukoyede as EFCC chair.
Opatola, in the suit, had challenged the validity of the appointment on the grounds that Olukoyede did not meet the years of service required by law for the office of chairman of the anti-graft agency.
He had listed the President of Nigeria, the National Assembly, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), and Olukoyede as 1st to 4th respondents respectively, in the suit marked: HC/ABJ/CS/1403/2023.
However, the respondents prayed the court to dismiss the suit for lacking merit.
Olukoyede, who was represented by Olumide Fusika, SAN, on the last adjourned date, challenged the legal authority of the plaintiff to institute the suit in the first instance.
Besides, Olukoyede claimed that he is eminently qualified to occupy the office of EFCC Chairman, having served as secretary of the commission, a Grade 17 position, which is higher than the rank of an Assistant Commissioner of Police, a Grade 14 position.
He accordingly asked the court to dismiss the suit.
Opatola had, among others, raised the question of whether, by the true construction and interpretation of Section 2 (1) (a) of the EFCC Act 2004, Olukoyede, who has not fulfilled the conditions of the Act, can be validly appointed as EFCC chairman.
He also asked the court to determine whether, by the true construction and interpretation of Section 2(1)(a) of the EFCC Act 2004, the person appointed to the office of the chairman of the EFCC can be said to be above the rank of assistant commissioner of police or its equivalent.
