Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Lagos, will on February 2 deliver judgment in a fundamental rights suit filed by former minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah.
The judgment was stalled on Monday following Justice Abang’s transfer to the court’s Abuja division.
Parties had adopted written addresses and made closing arguments before the transfer was announced.
However, rather than the case starting de novo (afresh), it was learnt that Justice Abang will fly down to Lagos to deliver the judgment.
The Federal Government had objected to the suit, praying the court to dismiss it on the basis that Oduah cannot be shielded from prosecution.
Justice Mohammed Yunusa had last August 26 granted an interim injunction restraining anti-graft agencies from taking any action against her pending the suit’s determination.
The case is over the 2013 purchase of two armoured BMW cars by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) under Oduah’s watch.
The AGF, in its objection, is challenging the territorial jurisdiction of the Lagos division of the Federal High Court to hear the case on the ground that the alleged rights violation did not take place in Lagos.
The prosecution is contending that by virtue of Section 46(1) of the Constitution and Order 2 Rule 1 of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure, only a court within the state where Oduah’s rights were allegedly violated could hear the case.
The AGF also said Oduah did not prove that she had been invited, arrested or detained.
The vehicles, bought under Oduah’s watch as aviation minister, were said to have cost N255million, an amount that sparked huge outrage.
Justice Yunusa barred the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the AGF and the Inspector-General of Police from inviting the former minister for interrogation.
The EFCC, it was learnt, did not file any application to discharge the restraining order within the time allowed.
Source: TheNationonline
