Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate, has urged the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to dismiss the petition filed against him by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo.
According to Newsmen, Keyamo petitioned the CCB for an investigation into the former Vice-President over allegations that he utilized a Special Purpose Entity to divert public funds while vice president between 1999 and 2007.
In response to the petition, the CCB invited the Minister to an interview to back up his allegations against the PDP presidential candidate.
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Nevertheless, in a letter sent through his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Atiku requested that the case be dropped because the subject matter was already in the public domain.
According to Ozekhome, the CCB examining the case when it was already in court would be illegal and disrespectful.
Ozekhome said, “It is highly inappropriate for a party to a suit to take any extrajudicial steps, or to embark on any course of action that is either tantamount to or calculated to undermine the authority and integrity of the court, which is dominus litis over the proceedings.
“Such behavior is as condemnable as it is unacceptable. It is strongly frowned upon by courts of law, as it has the potential of over-reaching the court and the other party and foisting on the court a fait accompli. In fact, it smacks of contempt of court, albeit ex facie curiae.”
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The senior lawyer requested that the CCB refrain from intervening with the subject matter of Keyamo’s petition and instead advise and direct him to see his ongoing litigation against Atiku through to its natural conclusion.
Ozekhome has warned that if the body continues its probe, Atiku will initiate legal action against the CCB.
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