Dikko: EFCC wants Justice Nyako to hands off case

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Adamu Abdu-Kafarati to transfer the case file of former Customs Comptroller-General, Abdullahi Dikko to another judge.

The case is currently before Justice Binta Nyako at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

When the matter was called, Justice Nyako said she had received a letter in which the EFCC Chairman had written to the Chief Judge asking for the transfer of the case.

“The reason is that the EFCC is prosecuting my husband and so they don’t want me to handle any matter concerning the commission,” Nyako said.

The judge, however, maintained that the request would not augur well for the administration of justice, insisting that to her “the law is the law” no matter who is involved.

She advised the EFCC counsel to ensure that all parties in the matter were served with the letter, adding that after they had all commented, she could give an objective response.

Nyako however said she had no problem returning the case file, and adjourned the matter till Nov. 1, for further mention.

The counsel who represented the EFCC, Mr Richard Daudu told the court that he was not aware of the letter since he was only handed the case file on Wednesday.

Counsel to Dikko, Mr Okechukwu Edeze, however, said the position of the EFCC was not in line with the law.

According to him, if everyone is allowed to chose which judge to prosecute their matter, there will be no justice.

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that Dikko is in court to stop the EFCC from prosecuting him on allegations that he engaged in unwholesome practices while he was the customs boss.