LASG denies lawsuit seeking to stop EFCC from arresting Sanwo-Olu after his tenure

The Lagos State Government has dismissed claims that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu initiated legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Reports had circulated alleging that Sanwo-Olu approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order to prevent the EFCC from arresting or prosecuting him at the end of his tenure.

In a statement on Tuesday, Lawal Pedro, SAN, the Lagos State attorney general and commissioner for justice, refuted these claims, clarifying that Sanwo-Olu has not filed any such lawsuit.

“Our attention has been drawn to the news circulating in a section of the media, titled: “Sanwo-Olu Sues EFCC over alleged plan to arrest, prosecute him after tenure.”

“We need to clarify that Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at no time, sued or briefed any legal practitioner to file a suit on his behalf concerning the above subject matter,” the statement read.

Pedro emphasised that Sanwo-Olu, who has nearly three years left in office and enjoys constitutional immunity, has no reason to initiate such legal proceedings.

He further noted that, to his knowledge, the EFCC has neither investigated nor threatened to arrest the governor or his staff.

The attorney general reaffirmed Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to transparent governance and the prudent management of public resources.

Read the full statement below.

REBUTTAL: ‘SANWO-OLU SUES EFCC OVER ALLEGED PLAN TO ARREST, PROSECUTE HIM AFTER TENURE’

Our attention has been drawn to the news circulating in a section of the media, titled: “Sanwo-Olu Sues EFCC over alleged plan to arrest, prosecute him after tenure.”

We need to clarify that Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at no time, sued or briefed any legal practitioner to file a suit on his behalf concerning the above subject matter.

Also, it is disingenuous for the Governor who enjoys immunity as conferred on him by the Constitution and has almost three years ahead of him to brief any lawyer on this kind of matter.

To the best of my knowledge and my inquiry confirmed that the EFCC is not investigating the Governor and has never invited him or threatened arrest of any member of his staff, domestic or otherwise.

We are currently investigating how the case came to be without our knowledge.

For the avoidance of doubt, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been an exemplar in terms of service delivery, prudent and judicious management of the public resources.

Therefore, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu who is busy working assiduously on how to improve the living conditions of all Lagosians does not have anything to fear when he eventually leaves office at the end of his tenure in May 2027.

We, therefore, enjoin media organisations to be wary of the kind of reports they entertain and publish on their respected platforms in order not to mislead the public.

Lawal Pedro, SAN
Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State.