By Abiola Olawale
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has on Thursday dismissed a suit seeking an order to investigate former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari over his alleged involvement in the misappropriation of N900 billion.
The suit filed by Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development (PAPS) had prayed the court to order the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), to investigate Yari, for allegedly misappropriating public funds while he served as Governor of the Northwest state.
At the court proceedings on Thursday, Honorable Justice Okon Abang dismissed the application filed by Sani Shinkafi, the chairman of PAPS on the grounds that the case was statue barred as at the time the applicant filed the suit.
Justice Abang stated that the application was filed out of time, backing his claim in line with the Order 34, Rule 4 of the Federal High Court Rules, which states that applicant(s) should file an application within three months of receiving reports and documents which will serve as the base of the case. He therefore stated that the court does not possess the power to extend the time of hearing of the case as a result declared the case as statute barred.
It would be recalled also that Yari, 53, was a former Governor of Zamfara State. He was elected into office in 2011 under the then All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) before the merger of the ANPP and other political parties into the present All Progressives Congress (APC). He was re-elected as governor in 2015 under the APC.
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