A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Edo State Government from arresting and prosecuting the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, for alleged corruption.
A panel of inquiry headed by Justice J. Oyomire had, in a white paper submitted to the state government, indicted Oshiomhole for corruption and and recommended his arrest and prosecution.
But Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Abuja Federal High Court directed all parties to the suit to refrain from taking any action against Oshiomhole pending the determination of the issue of jurisdiction.
Named as respondents in the suit were the Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Justice J. Oyomire; the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu and the Department of State Services.
Oshiomhole had, in an ex parte motion, through his lawyer, West Idahosa, asked the court to stop his arrest and prosecution based on the white paper.
However, counsel to the Edo State Government, Alex Ejesieme, approached the court with a preliminary objection to stop the ex parte order from being granted.
Ejesieme had earlier objected to the hearing of the case by the court, arguing that it lacked jurisdiction on the matter.
But the held that, ”An interim order is hereby made restraining the prosecution of the applicant pursuant to the report submitted to the 1st to 3rd respondents or any white paper, pending the determination of the issue of jurisdiction raised in the 1st to 4th respondents notice preliminary objection”.
Justice Mohammed also directed Oshiomhole’s lawyer to serve his processes to all the respondents within 48 hours.
The court adjourned the matter to June 17 for hearing.