Babajide Sanwo-olu, Lagos State governor, is smart.
To avoid the usual embarrassing arrest and prosecution most Nigerian governors face after their tenures, he has sued the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) in advance.
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Sanwo-olu is a second-term governor and would be completing his tenure in 2027 – barely two years from now.
The governor’s lawyer, Darlington Ozurumba, has filed a suit against EFCC at Federal High Court in Abuja, following the anti-graft agency’s threat to prosecute him.
Sanwo-olu is particularly praying the court to declare that EFCC can’t arrest, detain or prosecute him after completing his term in 2027.
In court, EFCC denied it never received originating summon from the complainant and Ozurumba inform the court he has replace the summon.
The case was adjourned until November 11.
There are lines of immunity clause in the constitution which protected governors while they’re in office. Over the years, EFCC swooped on them immediately after their terms ended.
Did Gov. Sanwo-olu commit any offense?
Governor Sanwo-olu, who won against sitting governor of Lagos State Akinwunmi Ambode in 2019 under the platform of All Progressives Congress, will be completing his two-year terms in 2027.
He allegedly amass wealth for himself within these years of service and EFCC are threatening to take some of his properties.
So governor Sanwo-olu’s decision to sue EFCC is seen merely as a ploy to avoid being prosecuted after immunity is removed in 2027.