Money Laundering Allegation: Court Throws Out Keyamo’s Suit Against Atiku

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, on Monday, dismissed the suit seeking to compel anti-graft agencies in the country to arrest and prosecute a former Vice President and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the recent presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

The court, in a judgement that was delivered by Justice James Omotosho, held that the suit, which was filed before it by the immediate past Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo, lacked merit.

Justice Omotosho held that the plaintiff was unable to disclose any reasonable cause of action in the suit to warrant the court to exercise its discretion in his favour.

Besides, the court held that the suit was premature, stressing that Keyamo failed to allow the relevant law enforcement agencies to investigate the allegation he raised against Atiku before he rushed the matter to court.

Consequently, it dismissed the suit for want of competence.

Meanwhile, in a swift reaction, Keyamo, through a statement that was signed by the Assistant Head of his Chambers in Abuja, Mr. John Ainetor, vowed to appeal against the judgement.

Keyamo said he disagreed with the decision of the court, insisting that “the law-enforcement agencies did not indicate their willingness to commence investigations, even if they were given more time.”

“We want to establish a legal principle that the society cannot wait as infinitum for law-enforcement agencies to do their statutory duties.

“The suit was designed to prompt the agencies to show their readiness to investigate.

“We are immediately filing an appeal against the said decision to the Court of Appeal as the struggle on this issue continues,” the statement further read.