By Omotilewa Quadri
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has insisted that Mohammed Adoke (SAN), must face trial for alleged crimes bordering on the $1.1 billion Malabu transaction preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja heard Adoke’s suit challenging the five counts instituted against him by EFCC and adjourned till February 28 for judgment.
At the hearing on Thursday, Malami told the court that having been suspected of diverting public funds, his predecessor could not use the civil suit filed before the court to shield himself from prosecution.
The AGF, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General of the Federation of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Dayo Apata, added that his predecessor’s suit could not be used to truncate a criminal trial initiated by the EFCC.
Malami maintained that the suit disclosed no reasonable cause of action, adding that it could not be used to stop a criminal case.
The Permanent Secretary said, “We submit that the plaintiff cannot use this court to shield himself from prosecution having been suspected of diverting public funds.
“We urge this court to hold that this suit did not disclose any cause of action.
“We urge the court to dismiss the suit in its entirety.”
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