Court Dismisses Suit Against Ex-gov Sylva- N19.2bn Fraud

Court Dismisses Suit Against Ex-gov Sylva- N19.2bn Fraud

Justice Ahmed Mohammed of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a suit brought against ex-Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva, by the Economic and Finanacial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged N19.2 billion fraud.
The EFCC had joined Sylva, Francis Okokuro, Gbenga Balogun, Samuel Ogbuku, Marlyn Maritime Ltd, Eat Catering Services Ltd and Haloween Blue Construction and Logistics Ltd as co-accused in the suit.

In his ruling on the motion to set aside the charges, the trial judge dismissed the suit on the ground that the prosecution breached court process in its case against Sylva and the co-accused.
The judge held that the prosecution had filed another suit against the accused before Justice Evoh Chukwu and his court, both at the Federal High Court, Abuja, with similar charges.
He said that while the suit before him was ready for ruling, having heard the submission of parties’ counsel, the prosecution hurriedly went to withdraw the suit before Justice Chukwu.
Chukwu, had last week struck out the suit against Sylva before him.

EFCC Faults Dismissal Of Sylva’s Case
The EFCC has faulted the decision of the Federal High Court Abuja, which yesterday, dismissed the 42-count charge of stealing brought against a former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva on the grounds of abuse of court process. According to the anti-graft agency, Justice A. R Mohammed in dismissing the charge, erred in law as the accused persons had not taken any plea; no proof of evidence was placed before the court and trial had not commenced.