Please Stop EFCC from Sealing Our Headquarters, Sun Publishing Limited Appeals to AGF
The management of Sun Publishing Limited has appealed to the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) from sealing the company’s corporate headquarters.
The newspaper outfit appealed a statement issued by the management titled: ‘EFCC visit to The Sun office with armed policemen: Our Stand’.
The outfit is urging the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice to advise EFCC appropriately on the legal consequences of such action if implemented.
This is happening after the visit by three EFCC officials with four heavily armed police officers on Saturday, December 15, 2019, at about 10.00 a.m. to its corporate headquarters in Lagos.
”They arrived at the corporate headquarters of The Sun Publishing Limited at 2, Coscharis Street, Kirikiri Industrial Layout, Apapa, Lagos and put up a notice for the staff and the general public to keep off the premises.
“The EFCC officials, who came in a white Toyota bus with registration number, ABUJA BWR-644GA, wrote on The Sun’s fence, “EFCC, keep off.”
“They also advised our staff to collect their personal belongings from the office as they will come back to seal the premises completely,” the statement stated.
The management, therefore, stated that they did not understand the legal basis for the EFCC’s action as there is a pending court case on the matter.
”It is on record that there is a pending appeal at the Supreme Court with Suit No: SC/546/2018 wherein The Sun Publishing Limited appealed against the Judgement delivered by the Court of Appeal on the interim forfeiture order made against it by a Federal High Court in 2007 based on ex parte proceeding.
“The Notice of Appeal and Motion for Stay of Execution were duly served on EFCC by the bailiffs of the Court.
“It is also pertinent to state that EFCC vide a letter written by Counsel to The Sun Publishing Limited, dated May 22, 2018, and duly received by one Caleb Peter on behalf of Rotimi Jacobs & Co. was further put on notice of the pending appeal at the Supreme Court.
”It was also advised to stay the action in the matter pending the hearing of the Motion for Stay of execution and the appeal.
“It is instructive to state that The Sun Publishing Limited is not a party to the case of EFCC vs. Orji Uzor Kalu & 2 Others. So, we do not see why the Judgment, in that case, should lead to attempt to seal The Sun Publishing Limited premises.”
READ: N7.6bn Fraud: Court Finds Former Abia Governor, Orji Uzor-Kalu Guilty
While stating that both Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu and Slok Nig. Limited had since appealed the Judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris and a hearing date given; the Sun said that the outfit is an ongoing corporate limited liability company, and its shares are owned by various individuals distinct from Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu.
“Therefore, the recent Judgment against Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu should not be used to disturb the operations of the company and the proprietary rights of its innocent shareholders until the matters are dispensed with at the Supreme Court,” the statement stated.
