The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has fixed October 15, to hear all applications relating to a N20 billion bailout loan allegedly belonging to the Kogi State government, and said to be warehoused by Sterling Bank Plc.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke fixed the date on Tuesday following an application made by counsel to the Kogi State Government, Professor Sam Erugo (SAN), who told the court that he needed time to study the counter affidavit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the processes. On August 31, vacation judge, Justice Tijjani Ringim granted an exparte application for an interim forfeiture of the sum after taking arguments from the EFCC’s counsel.
With the vacation over, the suit was reassigned to Justice Aneke and at the resumed hearing on Tuesday, counsel to Kogi State government, Professor Erogbo (SAN) told the court that his client had filed processes challenging the interim order granted by Justice Ringim. He also told the court that the EFCC had filed its counter objections to the processes. The counsel then asked the court to give him more time to respond to the EFCC’s counter processes.
Counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, admitted to the court that he had been served with the processes and had equally filed his documents to counter the arguments raised. After listening to both parties, Justice Aneke, adjourned the matter till October 15, for the hearing of all applications.
