Alleged raid on CJN house: EFCC to sue Fani-Kayode, Odumakin over fake news
…Set to file libel suit against duo without further delay
…Another court stops further CCT trial of CJN
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it will file a libel suit against Fani-Kayode, Yinka Odumakin “and other purveyors of the evil news” over claims that the agency raided the house of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.
Reacting to rumours making the round on social media that operatives of the commission raided and effect the arrest of Justice Onnoghen, the EFCC in a statement by its acting Spokesman, Tony Orilade, described the news as a figment of the imagination of the purveyor of the fake news.
This is just as another Court, the National Industrial Court, has restrained the Federal Government from proceeding further with the trial of Justice Onnoghen pending the determination of the substantive suit before it.
Justice Onnoghen was to be arraigned on Monday by the Federal Government before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on six counts, for alleged false asset declaration based on a petition by a group, the Anti-corruption, Research and Data-based Initiatives.
The matter was however adjourned by the tribunal till Tuesday, January 22 due to improper service of the summons on CJN Onnoghen.
In a ruling delivered on Friday evening, the National Industrial Court granted the ex-parte motion suspending temporarily further action by the parties to suit involving the trial of CJN Onnoghen pending the determination of an application challenging the CCT trial.
The ex parte application was filed by an applicant, Peter Abang.
Justice Sanusi Kado granted the interim order to stop the CCT from proceeding with the trial pending the determination of the suit challenging Onnoghen’s false asset charge.
The ruling which was published on the website of the industrial court restrained the CCT chairman, Danladi Umar; the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and the Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami from proceeding with the hearing, pending the determination of the substantive application before the court which will be heard on January 21.
Meanwhile, the EFCC has sad that it will immediately initiate legal action against the arrowhead of the fake news that its operatives raided the CJN’s residence, Fani-Kayode and Odumakin.
The EFCC while describing the news as a deliberate attempt to drag the commission’s name to the mud said that its operatives never went to the house of the CJN for arrest neither was invitation extended to him.
The statement read in part: “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to the falsehood which has been spreading on the social media that the EFCC has arrested the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen. This is not only a figment of the imagination of the purveyor of the fake news, but an evil machination by the creator and carriers of the news aimed at creating anarchy in the country. “For the record, the EFCC never went to the house of the CJN for arrest neither was invitation extended to him. “Several calls and short messages received all point to the fact that the brains behind the fake news had one thing in mind: to act as agent of destabilisation. We would not give in to their plots. “One of the architect of the fake news, Femi Fani-Kayode, was quoted as saying “Why have the EFCC surrounded the home of CJN Onnoghen and why are they seeking to arrest him? These people want Nigeria to burn! Buhari call off your dogs before it is too late! This is a democracy and not a gestapo state! In the name of God let this madness stop”. “Another arrowhead of fake news, Yinka Odumakin, also shared an illegal and false video which has gone viral. “We want to assure Nigerians that while we would fight corruption in line with the mandate setting up the Commission, agents of darkness in the likes of Femi Fani-Kayode, Yinka Odumakin and their cohorts, would never be able to manipulate the people against the Commission. “We also want to assure Fani-Kayode, Yinka Odumakin and other purveyors of the evil news to be ready to defend their actions in the court of law as the EFCC will file libel suit against them without further delay”, the statement added. Also, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen, has debunked reports that his residence was on Tuesday invaded by EFCC operatives. Reacting to the report which gained traction in several social media platforms on Tuesday, Senior Special Adviser to the CJN on Media, Mr. Awassam Bassey, described it as false news. “I really don’t know where they got the information from. So many media men were here earlier with cameras over the same report. But what I can tell you for now is that there was no such thing. It is false news”, Bassey said. Andrew Orulua, Doosuur Iwambe – Abuja
The statement read in part: “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to the falsehood which has been spreading on the social media that the EFCC has arrested the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen. This is not only a figment of the imagination of the purveyor of the fake news, but an evil machination by the creator and carriers of the news aimed at creating anarchy in the country. “For the record, the EFCC never went to the house of the CJN for arrest neither was invitation extended to him. “Several calls and short messages received all point to the fact that the brains behind the fake news had one thing in mind: to act as agent of destabilisation. We would not give in to their plots. “One of the architect of the fake news, Femi Fani-Kayode, was quoted as saying “Why have the EFCC surrounded the home of CJN Onnoghen and why are they seeking to arrest him? These people want Nigeria to burn! Buhari call off your dogs before it is too late! This is a democracy and not a gestapo state! In the name of God let this madness stop”. “Another arrowhead of fake news, Yinka Odumakin, also shared an illegal and false video which has gone viral. “We want to assure Nigerians that while we would fight corruption in line with the mandate setting up the Commission, agents of darkness in the likes of Femi Fani-Kayode, Yinka Odumakin and their cohorts, would never be able to manipulate the people against the Commission. “We also want to assure Fani-Kayode, Yinka Odumakin and other purveyors of the evil news to be ready to defend their actions in the court of law as the EFCC will file libel suit against them without further delay”, the statement added. Also, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen, has debunked reports that his residence was on Tuesday invaded by EFCC operatives. Reacting to the report which gained traction in several social media platforms on Tuesday, Senior Special Adviser to the CJN on Media, Mr. Awassam Bassey, described it as false news. “I really don’t know where they got the information from. So many media men were here earlier with cameras over the same report. But what I can tell you for now is that there was no such thing. It is false news”, Bassey said. Andrew Orulua, Doosuur Iwambe – Abuja
