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Fake News: Sanwo-Olu Denies Filing Suit Against EFCC

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Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has dismissed reports claiming he sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged plan to arrest and prosecute him after his tenure.

This clarification was issued by the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, on Tuesday, who addressed what he described as “baseless and misleading” rumors.

Pedro stated that Sanwo-Olu had not authorized any legal action against the EFCC, contradicting reports that the governor’s legal counsel had filed a suit at a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Reports circulating in various media outlets alleged that Sanwo-Olu, represented by his lawyer Darlington Ozurumba, had filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

According to these reports, the suit aimed to prevent any future arrest or prosecution of the governor after he completes his second term.

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The suit reportedly sought to prevent the EFCC from infringing on Sanwo-Olu’s constitutional rights, which guarantee personal liberty and freedom from harassment under sections 35 and 41 of the Nigerian Constitution.

It was said that Sanwo-Olu had raised questions about his right to private and family life and sought declarations to restrain the EFCC from taking any actions that could threaten these rights.

However, in a swift response, Pedro emphasized that the governor had neither been approached nor investigated by the EFCC, adding that the allegations were without merit.

Pedro expressed surprise over the origin of the story, stating, “We need to clarify that Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at no time, sued or briefed any legal practitioner to file a suit on his behalf concerning the above subject matter.”

He pointed out that the governor, who enjoys constitutional immunity while in office, has no reason to fear prosecution or investigation.

“It is disingenuous for anyone to claim that a sitting governor, with immunity and nearly three years left in his tenure, would consider filing such a suit,” Pedro remarked.

The attorney general further noted that an internal investigation has been launched to understand how the alleged court case could have been filed without the state’s knowledge.

He added, “To the best of my knowledge and my inquiry confirmed that the EFCC is not investigating the Governor and has never invited him or threatened arrest of any member of his staff, domestic or otherwise. We are currently investigating how the case came to be without our knowledge.”

Pedro praised Sanwo-Olu’s dedication to Lagos State, describing him as “an exemplar in terms of service delivery and prudent management of resources.”

He further stated that Sanwo-Olu, who was re-elected in 2023, remains focused on improving the lives of Lagosians and has “nothing to fear” when his term ends in 2027.

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The attorney general took the opportunity to urge media organizations to verify reports before publishing, warning of the risks posed by misinformation.

He said, “We enjoin media organizations to exercise caution and verify the facts before publishing. This type of rumor only serves to distract from the important work being done in Lagos.”

On Tuesday, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja reportedly saw the case mentioned, with Sanwo-Olu’s alleged lawyer requesting an amendment to the original summons. However, EFCC counsel Hadiza Afegbua indicated that she had not reviewed the updated documents, leading to an adjournment until November 11.

Allegedly, the originating summons claimed EFCC officials had pressured the governor’s aides and contractors to make statements against him in preparation for a potential case.

This accusation, however, was firmly dismissed by Pedro, who reiterated that neither the governor nor his staff had been contacted by the anti-graft agency.

The EFCC has also not commented on the matter publicly, and it remains unclear if any internal investigations are underway.

This latest incident adds to ongoing tensions between prominent Nigerian political figures and the EFCC, as the agency continues its mission to address corruption.

Pedro assured Lagosians that Sanwo-Olu remains committed to fulfilling his promises and completing his term with integrity.

He concluded, “Governor Sanwo-Olu is fully dedicated to the people of Lagos. He does not have any concerns about his post-office future, as his record speaks for itself.”

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