Despite efforts by Ogun Speaker Kunle Oluomo to avert arrest and investigation of the Ogun State House of Assembly by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), he was eventually arrested on Thursday morning by operatives of the anti-graft commission.
Oluomo, who represents Ifo 1 State Constituency, was picked by the EFCC operatives at the Muritala Muhammad Airport, Lagos State over allegations bordering on corruption and financial impropriety.
There was an uneasy calm among members of the Ogun Assembly over his arrest with some wondering if they may be affected by it.
The Nation learnt that the agency invited Oluomo a few times for questioning but he allegedly did not honour any, a development made the anti-graft agency to place him on its watch radar.
Until his arrest, the Assembly sued the agency in January at the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta.
In suit N0.FHC/AB/CS/7/2022 dated 14th January 2022, the Assembly prayed for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the EFCC from taking further steps, including but not limited to inviting, interrogating, imposing obligations and demanding or requiring the attendance of the plaintiffs/applicants in connection with the criminal allegation made against the speaker and some others by an aggrieved member of the Assembly.
The Assembly also sought alternatively to relief one (1) above order of interlocutory injunction directing the EFCC to maintain status quo as of 1st December 2021 and or stay all actions relating to the criminal investigation made by an aggrieved member against the plaintiffs, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit filed by the plaintiffs.
The Assembly followed it with a letter to the anti-graft agency, reminding the EFCC that it is legally barred from taking any steps or decision against them until their suit is decided by the court.
“Without prejudice to formal service of the relevant processes by the court bailiffs, this letter serves as clear and unequivocal notice to the EFCC that a motion for interlocutory injunction is currently pending before the court.
“By virtue of the attached (especially Annexure 2), EFCC is legally barred from giving effect to its invitation letter dated 5 January, 2022 or from taking any further steps of any kind against my clients regarding the underlying investigation, until the application is decided by the court.
“As you are surely aware, once a dispute has been submitted to the Court’s consideration for adjudication, parties must not usurp the court’s powers to resolve the matter submitted or do anything that may make the decision of the court nugatory. A respondent in an application is particularly obligated to await the outcome of the application and not resort to self-help, foist a completed act on the Court, or conduct itself as if no processes are pending,” the suit notice partly stated.
The matter is still pending and is not clear if the injunctions sought by Oluomo and other members of the Assembly collectively were granted or not.
What is clear is that the efforts could not restrain the EFCC from arresting the Ogun Speaker.
