…Want to be included in compensation
From: Chukwudi Nweje
Three men who claimed to be part of the whistleblowers that provided information that helped the Economic and Financial crimes commission (EFCC) to discover the sums of $43.4 million. N23.3 million and 27,800 Euros stashed in a wardrobe at Flat 7, Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos State, have headed to the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, to seek for an order of the court to be included in the beneficiaries of the 2.5 to 5 percent compensation.
In a suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1158/2017 dated November 22, 2017, the plaintiffs through their lawyers, Hammart & Co, is asking the court to compel the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by the Attorney General of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), Bala Usman Maina, Stephen Sunday and Mr. Sherriff, who were named as first to sixth defendants, respectively, to pay them the 2.5 percent 5 percent of the recovered money as provided for in the whistle-blowers Executive Policy or whistle-blowers Executive Order.
The lawyers are also seeking a “declaration that the plaintiffs, 4th, 5th and 6th defendants actively participated and are instrumental to the whistle-blowing or disclosure of information to the first defendant staff or officers which resulted to the first defendant’s recovery of the sums $43.4 million. N23.3 million and 27,800 Euros at Flat 7 Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos State.
The plaintiffs are also seeking a mandatory injunction restraining the second defendant by themselves, their agents, staff or officers from excluding or denying the plaintiff from payment of the 2.5 – 5percent of the whistle-blowing fees or percentage of the amount of the money recovered as a result of the whistle-blowing or information disclosed by the plaintiff to the first defendant.