Drama as Angry EFCC Operative Describes Lawyer as Ring Leader of Fraudsters in Court Affidavit
A Federal High Court in Abuja, was yesterday enveloped with bewilderment, over a written counter affidavit submitted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), against a private lawyer, who is representing his client in a land matter.
Barr. Alexander Oketa, Lead Counsel of Alex Oketa Chambers, was described in the said counter affidavit by EFCC as a “ring leader” of a “complex band of fraudsters”, recommending him to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), for disciplinary action.
Mr. Tahiru Ahmed, a litigation clerk at the EFCC headquarters, Abuja, deposed to the affidavit, on behalf of the Commission.
The said counter affidavit, which was submitted to staff of the Federal High Court, Abuja on the 9th day of May 2024, was also presented before the Court presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite.
Paragraph 31 of the EFCC’s counter affidavit reads: “… given their history and confirmed antecedents of forging documents and manipulating facts, it is Alexander Oketa; Esq.; the ring leader of this complex band of fraudsters, who should be recommended to the LPDC for the incorrigible acts of fraud he has committed and is bent on committing to give life to a fraudulent act”.
Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), Elizabeth Alabi, Caleb Adegboola and others are standing for the EFCC in a private land dispute matter, while Alex Oketa and others are standing for the complainant, Jona Brothers Construction Ltd.
Barr. Oketa had dragged the EFCC before the Federal High Court, challenging the involvement of the agency in a land dispute between two private individuals, Chief Michael Adeojo and Jona Brothers Construction Ltd.
The Lawyer is also challenging the Ex Parte Order granted to the EFCC, for Jona Brothers Construction Ltd to forfeit the land; whereas, it is not a proceed of financial crimes, either against the Federal Government or any private individual; despite two separate subsisting judgements of Justice S. Bature and Justice Ibrahim Mohammed, both of the FCT High Court; a pending appeal at the Court of Appeal where the EFCC is also a party; and a pending suit filed by Jona Brothers before Hon. Justice Olajuwon of the Federal High Court, Abuja; challenging the Powers of the EFCC to delve into the land dispute and place caveats on the land.
The two aforementioned judgements had respectively given ownership of the disputed land to Jona Brothers Construction Ltd and restrained the EFCC and Chief Adeojo from the land or doing anything inimical to Jona Brothers’ possession of the land.
The matter has been adjourned to 16th July, 2024, for hearing