6th June, 2023
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo has filed an appeal against court order dismissing his suit to compel investigation of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.
Hon. Justice J.K Omotosho of the Federal High Court had dismissed his suit which sought to compel law-enforcement agencies to investigate Atiku over the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) saga.
The case was file on his behalf by John Ainetor
The case filed at the Appeal Court has the defendants as Atiku, Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), ICPC and EFCC.
In the suit, Keyamo raised an initial four grounds of appeal with a possibility of raising additional grounds of appeal.
In Ground one, Keyamo said the learned trial judge erred when the Court dismissed the Appellant’s suit on the ground that the 72 hours ultimatum given to the 2nd to 4th Respondents in the Appellant’s Letter of 16th January, 2023 was unreasonable.
In Ground two, the plaintiff stated that the award of cost of N5 million in favour of Respondent; and the sum of N5 million in favour 3rd Respondent by the trial court were not done judicially and judiciously in the circumstances of this case.
In Ground three, the former minister said the learned trial judge erred when the Court relied on the Appellant’s letter to the 2nd to 4th Respondents of 16th January, 2023, to hold that the suit of the plaintiff is frivolous, vexatious, and an abuse of court processes.
In Ground four, the plaintiff argued that the Judgment is against the weight of evidence.
Keyamo is seeking an order setting aside the ruling/judgment of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, in Abuja contained in the judgment of Honourable Justice J.K OMOTOSHO dated the 5th of June, 2023 in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CV/84/2023, BETWEEN FESTUS KEYAMO, SAN VS. ALHAJI . ATIKU ABUBAKAR & 3 ORS.
He is seeking an order reverting Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CV/84/2023, BETWEEN — FESTUS KEYAMO, SAN VS. ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR & 3 ORS to the Federal High of Nigeria in Abuja for hearing and determination on the merits before another judge of the Federal High Court.
He further sought any other order or orders which the Court might deem fit to make in the circumstances of this Appeal.