EFCC says it has no immediate plans to arrest and prosecute Oshiomhole despite petitions against him

ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials have revealed that they have no immediate plans to arrest and prosecute former Edo State governor and current All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman Adams Oshiomhole for now.

Over recent weeks, Mr Oshiomhole has been at the centre of several political storms following the APC primary elections as several governors have been unhappy with him after their candidates did not secure nominations. Some even accused him of receiving bribes from candidates to influence party nominations and he was recently questioned over this by the Department of State Security.

In addition, Mr Oshiomhole is facing battles over his handling of finances when he was Edo State governor between 2008 and 2016. Edo State based cleric and activist, Bishop Osadolor Ochei, has filed a suit against him asking the federal high court to declare that the EFCC has a statutory duty to investigate the different petitions that contained allegations of financial recklessness against Mr Oshiomhole.

However, the EFCC  is challenging the jurisdiction of the federal high court in Abuja to compel it to arrest and prosecute Mr Oshiomhole, over allegations that he diverted public funds to his personal use while in office as governor. Testifying in court, the EFCC admitted that it has received petitions accusing Mr Oshiomhole of complicity in acts of corruption but added that it was not under any obligation to report or give account of its investigations to any individual or under a timeline within which to carry out its functions.

Therefore, the anti-graft agency urged the high court to dismiss the suit that is seeking to invoke an order of mandamus to compel it to initiate criminal proceedings against Mr Oshiomhole. In the suit, Bishop Ochei accused Mr Oshiomhole of acquiring properties in the US, South Africa and Dubai worth billions of dollars and far in excess of his legitimate income.

He alleged before the court that Mr Oshiomhole also built a sprawling mansion worth more than N10bn in his home town known as Iyamho, while in office. Pastor Ochei told the court that he sent a petition to the EFCC on November 4, 2016, where he detailed some corrupt practices the ex-governor was involved in.

Pastor Ochei added: “The said building was constructed by Verissimo, a South African Architectural outfit. The said house has swimming pools, water fountains, multiple theatres for cinema and live performances, huge event halls, bridges, a man-made lake and lodges of different sizes amongst others.

“The said cost of building the mansion is well outside the second respondent’s legitimate income. His lifestyle and extent of the said property were not justified by his source of income.”

However, the EFCC, in a preliminary objection, challenged the locus standi of the applicant to file the action, saying it has discretion on how to use its available manpower to carry out investigations into petitions submitted to it. Justice Anwuli Chikere has fixed November 19 to commence hearing on the matter.