The Court held that the asset declaration by the INEC chair was lawful, valid and refused to order his sack
By Emma Ogbuehi
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Garki has dismissed a suit seeking the investigation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, over alleged false asset declaration.
In the judgment on Wednesday, Justice M. A. Hassan found that Yakubu complied with all relevant requirements in declaring his assets.
Justice Hassan held that the declaration of assets by the INEC chair was lawful, valid and in compliance with the law.
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The judge further held that having complied with the relevant laws in his asset declaration, Yakubu could not be investigated by any of the nation’s security agencies, as requested by the claimant.
Justice Hassan, who declined to grant any of the 14 reliefs sought in the suit, declared that the INEC Chairman could not be removed from office over an unsubstantiated allegation of false assets declaration.
The judgment was on the suit marked: FCT/HC/GAR/CV/47/2022, filed by Somadina Uzoabaka.
Uzoabaka had among others, queried the authenticity of the asset declaration made by Yakubu and urged the court to compel security agencies to probe his claims.
In the suit which had Yakubu and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as defendants, the claimant prayed the court for an order of mandatory injunction directing and compelling the INEC Chair to recuse, excuse and exclude himself and or step down from office pending the investigation of the various allegations against him by security agencies.
The claimant also sought an order stopping the INEC Chair from holding or assuming any public office for 10 years.
In his response, Yakubu faulted Uzoabaka’s claims.
The INEC boss tendered documents before the court to establish the sources of the funds with which he purchased the assets which the claimant claimed were illegally acquired.
Yakubu insisted that his assets declaration was validly done, a position Justice Hassan upheld in his judgment on Wednesday.
The judge held that Prof Yakubu’s asset declaration was lawful, valid and in compliance with the law.
He barred the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police, and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) from arresting Yakubu.