An Ibadan-based law firm, MFL Chambers has petitioned Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation, and Justice Ayo Salami, Chairman, Presidential Investigative Committee over a threat to its client Mr Kolawole Robert by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in view of a business gone sour between him and one Mrs Omowumi Adebayo.
The firm urged the Attorney General to investigate the matter in the interest of justice.
In a letter signed by Oluwatoyosi Ayankoya on behalf of the firm, titled, ‘Threat against the freedom and life of Mr Kolawole Robert in re-suit number1/268/2020- Flame Flavour Food Gas Limited and others versus Mrs Omowumi Adebayo and others,’ it noted that some officials of the anti graft commission were on the trail of their client despite a substantive legal action against it (EFCC) in court on the matter.
The letter read in parts: “We act as solicitors to Mr Kolade Roberts, the third claimant in the above stated suit referred to as our client and on whose instruction we wrote to you.
“We are surprised that despite the pendency of this suit against the Commission and especially Kalu Idagu, Juliet Odogwu, Opeyemi Ayodele and Idris Idea, you still directed your officers, in company of Mopol officers, to go to town searching for our clients and threatening to arrest, detain and kill our friend extra judicially without resort to law just because he dared to institute an action against you.
“Take note that these actions are contemptuous in nature and shows a high disregard for the judicial authority especially when there is pending order restraining them.
“Even assuming without conceding that the matter reported to you is not a civil matter over which you have no jurisdiction, what the law expects of you is to file a discharge against our client and allow the registrar of the court to issue a summon for his appearance in court as contained in Section 382 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.”
It stated that the law does not allow EFCC to use its officer to threaten the Nigerian citizens for instituting legal action against it. This, the letter indicated, is outside the purview of the Commission’s statutory duty.
The letter, therefore, warned that the law firm would not hesitate to go all length in protecting its client, if the Commission continues to act outside its jurisdiction.
