Court Okays EFCC Probe of N76Bn CCTV Project

 
A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday granted an ex-parteapplication seeking an order of mandamus to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the controversial $475million (N76 billion) moribund CCTV project awarded to ZTE Corporation by the federal government.

The applicant had named the EFCC, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Nigeria Police, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), ZTE Corporation and NigeriaCommunication Satellite Limited as co-defendants to the suit.

The applicant had on May 28, filed the ex-parte application, seeking the leave of the court to apply for the judicial review of mandamuscompelling the EFCC to investigate and prosecute the 2nd-8th defendants for misappropriation and financial impropriety.

Having listened to the argument of the lawyer to the applicant, Mr. Olugbenga Adeyemi, who sued as a concerned Nigerian, Justice Adeniyi Ademola granted the ex-parte application.

The judge consequently ordered as follows: “that leave is hereby granted to the applicant to apply for the judicial review of mandamus compelling the 1st respondent to investigate and prosecute the 2nd-7th respondents for financial misappropriation and impropriety.

The court also substituted the name of President Goodluck Jonathan as a respondent for the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), making him the eighth respondent.

The applicant had informed the court that he wrote a petition to the EFCC months back without any action taken on it.

He also argued that he had the locus standi to file the matter on the grounds of being a tax-payer and a resident of Abuja where Boko Haram had wreaked a lot of havoc.

He further claimed that he was concerned when he learnt about the botched project that should have protected some of the lives lost to the insurgency.

The case has been adjourned till July 1 for further hearing.