The Supreme Court has dismissed two appeals filed by the Attorney General of Rivers State and the Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly. The appeals sought to overturn a decision allowing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to challenge a court order that has, for years, prevented it from investigating former Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili.
Back in 2007, Odili obtained a ruling from a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, which placed a perpetual injunction on the EFCC, stopping it from investigating or arresting him. The order also barred the anti-corruption agency from probing the financial activities of the Rivers State Government.
Years later, the EFCC applied to the Court of Appeal for permission to challenge the Federal High Court’s ruling, even though the appeal was filed late. The appellate court granted this request, prompting the Rivers State Attorney General and the Speaker of the House of Assembly to take the matter to the Supreme Court.
When the case, marked SC/CV/318/2018, was brought before the Supreme Court on Monday, Justice John Okoro, who led a five-member panel, questioned its relevance. Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), S. A. Somiari, who represented the appellants, explained that the appeal was challenging the Court of Appeal’s decision to grant the EFCC leave to appeal the 2007 ruling.
However, Justice Okoro interrupted, stating, “This is not the type of appeal we hear here.” He advised the parties to first resolve the matter at the Court of Appeal before bringing it to the Supreme Court. Realizing the court’s stance, Somiari withdrew the appeal, and since the EFCC did not object, the court dismissed the case.
Justice Okoro ruled, “Appeal is dismissed, having been withdrawn without any objection.”
The second appeal, marked SC/CV/447/2018, which was filed by the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, met the same fate and was also dismissed.
