Customs Boss Certificate Forgery: Court Set To Rule On Keyamo’s Application
A Lagos High Court in Ikeja has fixed 27 February to deliver ruling in an application filed by Lagos-based lawyer, Festus Keyamo seeking to compel the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution to prosecute the current Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko for alleged certificate forgery.
Keyamo had approached the court presided over by Justice Yetunde Idowu for an order of mandamus compelling the Director of DPP to exercise his discretion whether or not to prosecute Dikko.
He alleged that Dikko forged two certificates belonging to the Nigerian Institute of Management and West African Examinations Council (WAEC) with assistance from Mr. Olajide Oyewole.
However, the DPP in its response through the Lagos State Attorney-General, Mr Ade Ipaye, had urged the court to dismiss the application because it was premature and lacked sufficient evidence from material witnesses.
Ipaye in the written address had claimed that there was no sufficient evidence to prosecute Dikko for the alleged offence.
DPP’s lawyer, Olarenwaju Akinsola told the court that it was untrue that the DPP was not interested in prosecuting the custom’s boss.
He said: “The law states that an offence must have been committed before the law officer is meant to act.
“We have taken actions but what we are saying is that until we have the facts, we are constrained.”
According to him, the DPP had requested the police vide a letter dated July 28, 2010 to investigate the matter to enable them issue a considered legal opinion and take necessary steps.
He claimed that the police were yet to conclude their investigation, adding that it was therefore premature for Keyamo to seek for an order of mandamus.
PM News
