EFCC, DPP bicker as Sylva goes free of alleged N2.45bn fraud

The decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. M.S Diri to withdraw the N2.45bn fraud charges against former governor Timipre Sylva of ‎Bayelsa State has not gone down well with the EFCC.

Following the withdrawal of the EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, from the case on May 25, 2015, it was handed over to the DPP.

But instead of the DPP appearing in court on Monday for commencement of trial‎, he issued a fiat to a private lawyer, O.J Nnadi (SAN), to continue prosecuting the case.

Nnadi, during the Monday’s proceedings tendered a freshly issued fiat before the court and told the judge that the EFCC had instructed him to withdraw the suit. He then urged the court to strike out the case.

But the EFCC, represented by its Assistant Director, Legal and Prosecution, Mr. J.O Ojogbane, said the anti-graft agency was not part of the decision to withdraw the charges.

Sylva’s lawyer, Mr. Israel Olorundare (SAN), did not oppose the application for the withdrawal of the suit.

He urged the court to strike it out as prayed by the prosecution and he also urged the court to order the release of his client’s passport which had been in the custody of the court since he was first arraigned in 2012.

Justice Chukwu in his ruling struck out the case as he held that the Attorney-General of the Federation possessed the power under the constitution to delegate his power to issue a fiat as it was done in the case.

The judge also ordered that Sylva’s passport be released to him.

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