Sen Dickson
Court orders EFCC to stop investigation of ex-Bayelsa Gov Dickson’s assets
A Federal High Court in Yenagoa, on Wednesday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to stop further investigation into the assets of Bayelsa former governor, Sen. Seriake Dickson.
The EFCC had invited Dickson for questioning over alleged corruption, including non-declaration of assets and misapplication of intervention funds in August.
Dickson now a senator therefore approached the court on Nov. 15 to stop the commission from going ahead with the investigation.
The ex-governor had declared the assets at the Code of Conduct Bureau which issued a certificate of verification for them.
Delivering judgement, the trial judge, Justice Isah Dashien granted all the reliefs sought by Dickson.
According to the court, the assets were acquired by Dickson with loans when he was a member of the House of Representatives and so could not be investigated.
“The Registered Trustees of the Seriake Dickson Incorporated and Senator Seriake Dickson, respectively as first and second plaintiff, declared that the EFCC cannot lawfully arrest, investigate and/or prosecute the former governor who declared the assets in question and for which the verifying authorities, the CCB issued certificates of verification before he became governor,” it said.
