NASS: Court Orders Arrest Of Ex-Clerk, Omolori
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered the arrest of the immediate past Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori.
Justice Suleman Belgore issued the warrant of arrest following an ex-parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing the suspect of diverting N400m worth of vehicles belonging to the parliament.
In the EFCC application, marked M/8727/2020, the commission stated that it’s investigation into the ex-clerk was sparked by a petition it received accusing Omolori and other management staff of the National Assembly of diverting 14 Toyota Hilux vehicles and 13 Peugeot 508 worth over N400m belonging to the National Assembly.
According to the commission, in the course of the investigation, Adamu Mohammed Fika, secretary of the National Assembly Commission, Oluseye Ajakaye and others, whom it claimed pointed accusing fingers at Sani-Omolori in respect of the case.
The commission said it resorted to applying for the arrest warrant against the suspect following repeated invitations for questioning, which he still failed to honour.
After listening to the counsel for the EFCC, S. N Robert, the court granted the commission’s application.
“I have considered the application, I averted to Paragraph 7 of the supporting affidvat and Exhibit EFCC 4 wherein the respondent was said to have ignored invitations to report in the applicant’s office without any justifiable reason.
“It is clear to me that Section 3 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015 can be invoked in the circumstances of this case in granting this application and I so do.
“Warrant of immediate arrest is hereby issued against Mohammed Omolori, the former clerk of the National Assembly forthwith,” the judge said.
