The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has rejected media reports suggesting that its counsel, Larry Peters Aso, linked legal practitioner Dr Ted Iseghoi-Edwards to alleged fraud in the London-Paris Club refunds case.
The commission described the reports as misleading, insisting that Aso did not make the statements attributed to him concerning a 2024 EFCC investigation report or alleged pressure from senior officials.
In a statement issued on Monday by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC said the reports misrepresented the lawyer’s comments following a judgment delivered by Justice Suleiman Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
The judgment followed a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Iseghoi-Edwards over allegations connected to services rendered to Nigeria’s 774 local government councils.
According to the EFCC, the court cleared the lawyer of the allegations and disagreed with the commission’s position on its investigation report concerning the London-Paris Club refunds.
The commission said Aso’s response in court was limited to thanking the judge for handling the matter and informing the court that the EFCC would obtain a Certified True Copy of the judgment before deciding on its next steps.
It further denied that its counsel made comments suggesting that a 2024 report had been prepared under pressure or that Iseghoi-Edwards fraudulently obtained judgments.
The EFCC maintained that the lawyer did not discuss the alleged connection between the report and proceedings instituted against the Federal Government in the United States.
The commission urged journalists to verify information from court proceedings before publication, stressing the importance of accurate and objective reporting in judicial matters.
The clarification comes amid public attention surrounding the London-Paris Club refunds case and the legal proceedings involving the lawyer.
Deborah Adeyefa
