Property developer challenges AGF over legality of theft charges against him

By Dansu Peter 

A property developer, Mr Cecil Osakwe has challenged the legality of the charges brought against him by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.

The AGF had, in a charge accused Osakwe of electricity theft to the tune of N11 million.

But, Osakwe, through his Counsel, Mr Victor Giwa, accused the office of the AGF of being used to harass and intimidate his client.

When the proceedings came up before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Osakwe challenged the legality of the task force that investigated the process leading to the filing of the charges against him on the ground that, the task force is unknown to law.

Osakwe had through his counsel filed a motion seeking to halt his arraignment on the ground that the special investigative task force on electricity set up by the Attorney General of the Federal and Minister of Justice was unlawful.

The Counsel drew the attention of the court to a pending suit challenging the legality of the panel that investigated his client and appealed to the court to stay  proceedings pending the determination of the suit.

The federal government, in a criminal charge filed against the property developer, Mr. Cecil Osakwe, over alleged N11 million electricity theft, accused him of tampering with electricity meters which resulted in the loss of N11 million in revenue to the Federal Government.