Abdullahi Bashir Haske, the businessman declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has responded to the agency’s declaration through his legal team, who have accused the commission of “a blatant act of illegality and abuse of process.”
Haske, who is the son-in-law of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, was declared wanted by the anti-graft agency over an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering. The EFCC had urged the public to provide information that could lead to his arrest.
In a statement issued by his lead counsel, Nkemakolam Okoro, Haskeโs lawyers argued that the declaration is improper because there is already “a pending motion before the Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging the validity of the warrant of arrest” obtained by the EFCC.
The statement emphasised that court filings show Haske had demonstrated a willingness to cooperate with the EFCC, including honouring an invitation in July and submitting medical records after suffering health complications during detention.
Okoro faulted the commission for seeking an arrest warrant before Haskeโs agreed return date, noting that a motion had been filed to vacate the order, which they claimed was obtained โby misrepresentation and suppression of material facts.โ
He further stated that โthe order issued on August 8 was specifically for his arrest, not for him to be declared wanted,โ adding that โit is trite law that where a court order is obtained by deceit or suppression of facts, the court has the inherent jurisdiction to set it aside ex debito justitiae.โ
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