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28
Thu, Mar

N10million Fine: Keyamo Heads To Appeal Court

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Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has expressed his will to approach the Appeal court over the ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja which awarded a fine of a million against him in what it called a “frivolous suit” against the PDP, presidential flag bearer of the 2023 General election, Atiku Abubakar. This was disclosed by, John Aineto, the Assistant Head of Keyamo chamber, Abuja in a statement that his boss will approach the Appeal court to seek redress to quash the N10m fine.


The statement partly reads; “Our client respectfully disagrees with the reasons for the said decision because the law-enforcement agencies did not indicate their willingness to commence investigations, even if they were given more time. We want to establish a legal principle that the society cannot wait as infinitum for law-enforcement agencies to do their statutory duties.” 

Justice James Omotosho has in his ruling awarded the sum of N5 million naira each in favour of Atiku Abubakar and the Independent Corrupt Practice and other Related offences, ICPC making it N10 million against Festus Keyamo. 

The Judge, who described Keyamo's suit as “frivolous, vexation and abuse of court process” has directed that Keyamo should pay the sum at the rate of 10% per annum until the money is finally liquidated. 

The High Court order followed the oral application by counsel to Atiku Abubakar, Benson Igbanoi and that of the ICPC, Oluwakemi Odogun, demanding damages after the matter was dismissed by the court. 

In the suit, Keyamo has sought an order from the court to compel the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, ICPC and Code of Conduct Bureau to probe and prosecute Atiku Abubakar. 

Keyamo was carried away by the claim of one of Atiku Abubakar's aides, Michael Achimugu, that between 1999 and 2007 when Atiku was vice president, Achimugu conspired with Atiku Abubakar to defraud the country using what he called a “Special Purpose Vehicle”. 

Your Law Degree is Useless, Atiku Aid chides Keyamo 

Following the defeat of Keyamo, one of the Atiku aid, Phrank Shaibu, his Special Assistant on Public Communication while commenting yesterday has called on Keyamo to trash his certificate. 

He said the defeat has exposed the incompetence of Keyamo to public glare as a lawyer. 

Shaibu added that the judgement was clear evidence that Keyamo was only playing bad politics instead of being a statesman. 

In his statement, “Keyamo’s incompetence has been confirmed by Justice Omotosho. One wonders how he was elevated to the rank of senior advocate. Despite several clarifications that the allegations levelled against Atiku were trumped up, Keyamo refused to listen to reason. 

“Rather than act like a refined lawyer as expected of a senior advocate, he decided to act like a political jobber. Now, he has been disgraced before the entire world. This was a man who served under the legendary, Chief Gani Fwehinmi. What a shame!”

 

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