Judge Grants Ifeanyi Ubah "Perpetual Injunction" Against EFCC Investigation

 A controversial Federal High Court judge, Abdul Kafarati, has sensationally granted an injunction against further investigation of Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, the equally controversial businessman recently arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for his involvement in the multibillion-dollar oil subsidy fraud. (see order after the cut)

Judge Kafarati was at the centre of a related matter last November when he granted Nigeria’s Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) an order that enabled the corporation to temporary take over Mr. Ubah’s assets.  Shortly after the asset freeze, he reportedly met Ubah through his lawyers, represented by Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and thus became friends with the controversial businessman.

The order was later lifted even though Ubah and Capital Oil were indebted to AMCON to the tune of N48.014 billion.

Kafarati’s exparte motion today, aimed at interfering with the EFCC’s ongoing investigations regarding Ubah’s involvement in oil subsidy fraud, is reminiscent of the perpetual injunction granted former Rivers State governor, Peter Odili, which has prevented the EFCC from charging him to court for extensive corruption.

Mr. Ubah obtained a similar court judgement from another Federal Court in Lagos, effectively stopping the Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit from prosecuting him.  Furthermore, the judge awarded Mr. Ubah damages relating to his detention for fraud.

In response to today’s developments, an anti-corruption group told SaharaReporters that they intend to send a letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to commence investigation and sanctions against the controversial judge.

source:saharareporters