The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has clarified why its operatives visited the residence of the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Kano Division, Justice Ita Mbaba, saying that it was a mere property verification visit.
In a statement by its Head of Media & Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the anti-graft agency stated that the jurist is not under investigation, adding that “The Commission holds the Judiciary in optimum respect and will do nothing to embarrass any officer of the court.”
It was reported that EFCC operatives stormed the residence of the jurist early today, raising concerns about his safety.
The full text of the EFCC statement is below.
EFCC PRESS STATEMENT
JUSTICE ITA MBABA NOT UNDER EFCC’S INVESTIGATIONS.
The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to some reports in the Social Media, alleging that its operatives, in the Kano Zonal Command “invaded” the residence of the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Kano Division, Honourable Justice Ita Mbaba, located on Sheik Yusuf Adam Game street, off Race Cross Road, Nassarawa Government Reservation Area, Kano.
While it is true that operatives of the Commission visited the property housing Justice Mbaba, on a Property Verification exercise, owing to a subsisting matter involving the owner of the property, there is no truth, linkage or nexus with any investigation of the Honourable Justice of the Court of Appeal. Available facts showed that Justice Mbaba is not the owner of the property and could, therefore, not be the subject of any investigation by the Commission.
We wish to restate that Hon. Justice Ita Mbaba is not under any investigation by the EFCC. The Commission holds the Judiciary in optimum respect and will do nothing to embarrass any officer of the court.
