An Abuja Federal High Court has stopped the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) from detaining former governor of Zamfara State, Abdul’aziz Yari, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The court also stopped the Department of State Services (DSS) from detaining the senator-elect.
Justice Donatus Okorowo gave the order in a ruling he delivered on an ex-parte motion on Monday.
The judge ordered the respondents (EFCC, ICPC and DSS) to show cause in the next adjourned date on why the prayers sought on the motion ex-parte should not be granted.
“The respondents were, however, restrained from detaining the applicant until the return date for the order to show cause,” he ruled.
The matter was adjourned to June 8 for the respondents to show cause.
In an expert motion, the former governor of Zamfara had prayed to the court for an order restraining the EFCC, ICPC and DSS from arresting him, which will prevent him from participating in the proclamation of the 10th Senate by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on June 13.
Yari, who said he has the desire of contesting the position of the President of the Senate, alleged that some members of his political party – the All Progressives Congress – are using the respondents and their agents to harass and threaten to arrest him on trumped-up charges for the period leading to the first sitting of the Senate when nominations and election of presiding officers shall be constituted.
