The management of The Sun Newspaper has questioned the legal basis for the action of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which pasted a notice for staff and the general public to keep off the premises of the company located on 2, Coscharis Street, Kirikiri Industrial Layout, Apapa, Lagos.
It said in a signed statement entitled ‘Our stand on EFCC officials’ visit – The Sun management, the company said three EFCC officials, with four heavily armed policemen visited The Sun Publishing Limited on Saturday, December 14, 2019 around 10.00am and put up a notice for staff and the general public to keep off the premises and asked “our staff to collect their personal belongings from the office as they will come back to seal the premises completely.”
It stated that the recent court judgement against the newspaper publisher and senate chief whip, Mr. Orji Uzor Kalu should not be used to disturb the operations of the company and the proprietary rights of its innocent shareholders until the matters are dispensed with at the Supreme Court.
It would be recalled that Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Abuja had in his December 5 ruling on the fraud and money laundering trial involving Kalu, one of his former commissioners, Jonas Udeogo and Slok Nigeria Limited, directed the company to be wound up and its assets forfeited to the government.
He also sentenced Kalu to 12 years jail term and Udeogo to 10 years after convicting them on the corruption charges.
However, The Sun management argued that “The Sun Publishing Limited was not a party to the case of EFCC vs. Orji Uzor Kalu & 2 Others; so we do not see why the Judgment in that case should lead to attempt to seal The Sun Publishing Limited premises.
“Furthermore, we are aware that both Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Slok Nig Limited have since appealed the Judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris and a hearing date given.
“We wish to reiterate that The Sun Publishing Limited is an ongoing corporate limited liability company and its shares are owned by various individuals distinct from Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
Here is the full statement
Our stand on EFCC officials’ visit – The Sun management
“Three officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with four heavily armed policemen on Saturday, December 15, 2019, at about 10.00 am arrived the corporate headquarters of The Sun Publishing Limited at 2, Coscharis Street, Kirikiri Industrial Layout, Apapa, Lagos and put up a notice for staff and the general public to keep off the premises. The EFCC officials, who came in a white Toyota bus with registration number, ABUJA BWR-644GA, wrote on The Sun’s fence, “EFCC, keep off.” They also advised our staff to collect their personal belongings from the office as they will come back to seal the premises completely.
“We do not understand the legal basis for this EFCC action. It is on record that there is a pending appeal at the Supreme Court with Suit No: SC/546/2018 wherein The Sun Publishing Limited appealed against the Judgement delivered by the Court of Appeal on the interim forfeiture order made against it by a Federal High Court in 2007 based on ex parte proceeding. The Notice of Appeal and Motion for Stay of Execution were duly served on EFCC by the bailiffs of the Court.
“It is also pertinent to state that EFCC vide a letter written by Counsel to The Sun Publishing Limited, dated 22nd May, 2018 and duly received by one Caleb Peter on behalf of Rotimi Jacobs & Co. was further put on notice of the pending appeal at the Supreme Court and advised to stay action in the matter pending the hearing of the Motion for Stay of execution and the appeal.
“Again, it is instructive to state that The Sun Publishing Limited was not a party to the case of EFCC vs. Orji Uzor Kalu & 2 Others, so we do not see why the Judgment in that case should lead to attempt to seal The Sun Publishing Limited premises.
“Furthermore, we are aware that both Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Slok Nig Limited have since appealed the Judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris and a hearing date given.
“We wish to reiterate that The Sun Publishing Limited is an ongoing corporate limited liability company and its shares are owned by various individuals distinct from Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. Therefore, the recent Judgment against Senator Orji Uzor Kalu should not be used to disturb the operations of the company and the proprietary rights of its innocent shareholders until the matters are dispensed with at the Supreme Court.
“In view of the foregoing, we call and appeal to the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice to urgently intervene and advise EFCC appropriately on the legal consequences of its actions.”
Meanwhile, spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren said in a statement that the anti-graft agency’s action was to ensure that “the properties were not dissipated, following the December 5, 2019 order of Justice Muhammed Idris sitting at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos that Kalu’s company, Slok Nigeria Limited, be wound up and all assets forfeited to the federal government.”
