The Federal High Court in Abuja has extended its previous order, which prevents the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), and the State Security Service (SSS) from detaining former Zamfara State governor Abdul'aziz Yari.
The extension was granted by Judge Donatus Okorowo after Yari's lawyer, Michael Aondoaka, made an oral application. The extension came about because the lawyers representing the EFCC and ICPC requested an adjournment to allow them time to respond to Yari's motion.
On June 5, Judge Okorowo issued the initial order to restrain the law enforcement agencies from detaining Yari, who is also a senator-elect. Yari is currently under investigation by the EFCC and ICPC and had sought the court's protection from detention, which he believed could hinder his ambition to run for the position of Senate President in the upcoming 10th National Assembly.
During the hearing, Yari's lawyer informed the court that all the respondents had been served as directed. The lawyers representing the EFCC and ICPC acknowledged receiving Yari's processes but stated that they had yet to file their response. Therefore, they requested an adjournment to provide sufficient time for filing their responses.
Yari's lawyer did not object to the respondents' intention to respond and requested an extension of the initial order, emphasizing that the order was given to expedite the time to show cause. The senior lawyer also mentioned that their application had been served on the State Security Service (SSS), although the agency was not present in court.
The lawyers representing the EFCC and ICPC did not oppose the request for an extension of the order. Consequently, Judge Okorowo adjourned the matter until June 27 and barred the EFCC, ICPC, and SSS from detaining Yari until they appear to show cause on the next adjourned date.
In related news, the 10th National Assembly is set to be inaugurated on June 13 following a proclamation by President Bola Tinubu. Yari, a two-term former governor of Zamfara, has expressed his interest in vying for the position of Senate President in the 10th assembly.
Yari filed an ex-parte motion requesting the court to restrain the respondents (EFCC, ICPC, and SSS) and their officials from arresting, detaining, or preventing him from attending or participating in the Proclamation of the 10th Senate. The motion will be heard at a later date.
Yari argued that his aspiration to contest the position of Senate President has gained significant support from the public and distinguished senators-elect, irrespective of party affiliations. He claimed that some members of his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), are unhappy with this support and have resorted to using the respondents and their agents to harass and threaten him with arrest and detention on fabricated charges.
Yari maintains that such actions would violate his constitutional rights.
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