Public Interest Group Demands Action On Long-Standing Court Order Against Seinye Lulu-Briggs
A civil society organisation, the Public Interest and Diplomatic Centre, PIDC, has formally called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to execute a long-standing arrest warrant against Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs.
The demand was contained in a petition addressed to the Executive Chairman of the anti-graft agency and signed by the National Coordinator of the group, Patriot Christopher Adikpe.
In the petition, the group urged the EFCC to enforce the arrest warrant order issued on 16th May, 2022 by Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/653/2022.
According to the group, the court had in its order directed relevant law enforcement agencies, including the EFCC, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Immigration Service and the International Criminal Police Organization, Interpol, to produce the respondent before the court or the Commission in line with due process.
The PIDC expressed concern that more than four years after the order was issued, it is yet to be executed, describing the development as worrying for the rule of law and the fight against economic and financial crimes.
The group argued that a valid order of court remains binding and enforceable until it is discharged, stayed, varied or set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction, adding that selective enforcement of court orders could erode public confidence in the justice system.
“Unless and until such an order is discharged, stayed, varied or set aside, it ought to be obeyed and enforced according to its terms,” the group stated in its petition.
The PIDC further drew the attention of the EFCC to its statutory responsibilities under the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004, which empowers the Commission to investigate, arrest and prosecute economic and financial crimes, including cases that may require inter-agency collaboration and mutual legal assistance.
The group therefore urged the Commission to take immediate and concrete steps to enforce the court order in accordance with the law and to activate its standard procedures for locating persons wanted by the court.
It also called on the EFCC to work with relevant sister agencies to ensure that due process is followed in handling the matter.
As part of its demand, the PIDC gave the Commission a seven-day window to formally communicate the steps it has taken towards executing the warrant.
The group warned that if no concrete action is communicated within the stipulated time, it would be left with no option than to organize a peaceful protest at the headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja to demand accountability and respect for judicial pronouncements.
The organisation maintained that its demand is in the public interest and aimed at strengthening the rule of law and ensuring that court orders are treated with the seriousness they deserve.
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC has not issued an official response to the petition, while attempts to get a reaction from Mrs. Lulu-Briggs were unsuccessful.
The case is expected to attract public attention in the coming days as Nigerians await the response of the anti-graft agency.
