The Federal High Court in Abuja granted former Senate President Bukola Saraki’s request to amend his lawsuits against several federal agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday.
Justice Inyang Ekwo approved the motion after Saraki’s attorney, Tunde Afe-Babalola (SAN), presented it, and defense counsel raised no objections.
Justice Ekwo had previously dismissed Saraki’s cases on January 25 for lack of diligent prosecution.
The lawsuits, originally filed on May 10, 2019, were numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/507/2019 and FHC/ABJ/CS/508/2019. Defendants in the case include the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police, and the State Security Service (SSS), among others.
Following the January dismissal, Saraki sought to have the cases reinstated, which the court granted in response to a February 1 motion.
During Monday’s session, Afe-Babalola informed the court of a July 29 request to amend the lawsuits, with all parties receiving notification by July 31.
Representatives for the SSS, EFCC, ICPC, and CCB did not oppose the motion.
Justice Ekwo accepted the amendment and scheduled the next hearing for February 6, 2025, warning that any counsel responsible for delaying proceedings would face penalties.
Saraki’s legal actions trace back to a 2019 EFCC probe investigating his earnings during his tenure as governor of Kwara State from 2003 to 2011, which led to the temporary seizure of properties in Ikoyi, Lagos. Saraki initially challenged the EFCC’s actions through two lawsuits, resulting in a directive to suspend the probe.
However, the case has since transferred through multiple judges, and Justice Ekwo is now set to oversee the next phase of the proceedings.