Justice Ekwo dismissed the lawsuit due to an insufficient prosecution effort.
Recall that human rights activist and attorney Olukoya Ogungbeje sued CCB as the only respondent in a suit filed under the file number FHC/ABJ/CS/44/23.
The applicant requested an order of mandamus compelling the CCB to immediately exercise its constitutional and statutory duty, function, and obligation to invite, investigate, refer, and prosecute Obi before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on the allegations and complaints of breaches of the constitutional provisions on assets declaration. The motion on notice was dated July 3 but was filed by the applicant on November 6.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, was accused by Ogungbeje of concealing his offshore holdings and related assets.
In addition, he claimed that the LP candidate was a director of Next International (UK) Limited for 14 months after taking office as governor of Anambra and that the candidate maintained a foreign account during their time as public servants.
He said that this was against both the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) Constitution and the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.
In addition, he requested a declaration that the CCB’s inaction or unwillingness to take action in response to his application from March 23 constituted a “blatant violation of constitutional duties and obligations, a flagrant dereliction of public duty, and a gross abdication of statutory responsibility.”
Justice Ekwo granted Ogungbeje’s application ex parte, made by Odafe Ojisua, to request permission to file a mandamus order for the CCB to summon, look into, and prosecute Obi before the CCT.
Ogungbeje was instructed by the judge to serve CCB at least 14 days before the next adjourned date, and he was also given a seven-day deadline to file his application.
However, neither the applicant nor his attorney were present in court when the case was called yesterday, and as a result, Justice Ekwo dismissed the lawsuit.
