Representatives look into British agency, others for disobedience to Nigerian courts

The National Crime Agency (NCA), the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), and one investigator/prosecutor named Sara Melo are among the investigative agencies that the House of Representatives is about to launch an investigation into.

This inquiry is in response to claims made by the parties involved that these international organisations have disregarded court rulings in Nigeria and demonstrated disrespect for the judicial sovereignty of that country. Benedict Peters, the Aiteo Boss and an African businessman, was found not guilty by these rulings.

A petition submitted to the House by the civil society organisation African Centre for Justice and Human Rights (ACJHR) served as the impetus for this investigation. On Wednesday, the petition was formally approved in plenary.

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In the petition, it is claimed that foreign organisations have ignored Nigerian court findings and have taken steps to weaken verdicts that supported Benedict Peters.

The British authorities have persisted in bringing up Peters’ name in UK proceedings, effectively undermining the Nigerian courts’ affirmation of his innocence, despite over ten high court rulings that cleared him and rejected false accusations.

On behalf of the civil society organisation, Aliyu Mustapha presented the petition at Kubau Ikara Federal Constituency, Kaduna State.

The group wants the continued slander and undermining of Nigerian businessman Benedict Peters to be thoroughly investigated by the law. Their goal is to force the British government to stop undermining the rulings of competent Nigerian courts as well as the country’s judicial sovereignty.

He emphasised that the petition is an appeal to the Nigerian parliament to put an end to the unjustified attacks and violations of the rights of our citizens and the sanctity of our court pronouncements.

“Sometime in 2015 the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) commenced an investigation into certain activities of Mr Benedict Peters, CEO of AITEO Energy Resources, owners and operators of the OML 29 and the Nembe creek Trunk Line,” stated a portion of the petition, which was signed by ACJHR Secretary Chisom Nduka Edede Esq.

Some members of the EFCC allegedly devised a scheme with some of their allies in the National Crime Agency and Crown Prosecution Service in the UK to harass, threaten, and eventually steal some properties belonging to Mr. Benedict Peters and his companies after clearly failing to find any violations.

Houses located in the United Kingdom are among these assets. The OML 29, which AITEO lawfully purchased from Shell Petroleum Development Company, appears to be under the control of the Nigerian organisation for a while, before the British collaborators seize control of it.

The first thing the EFCC did was declare Mr. Peters wanted. The Court has ruled that this action was unlawful because it severely violated Mr. Peters’s rights, including his constitutionally protected right to a fair trial, which is embodied in the Latin adage “audi alteram patem.” meaning to hear the opposing viewpoint. from that year onward.

“Mr. Peters has appeared in at least ten courts, all of which have upheld his innocence and absolved him of all accusations and offences. misbehaviour, or any crime, really.

In the case BENEDICT PETERS & 3 ORS V ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION & 6 ORS – SUIT NO. FCT/HC/CV/0536/2017, the FCT High Court held the defendants, which included the EFCC, NCA, CPS, and their officials, liable in carousel fraud for concealing and falsifying information about Mr. Peters’ properties in order to seize them.

Following that, the court granted N200.000.0OO in damages to Mr. Peters and his businesses. Nobody has appealed this ruling, which was made by the Court six years prior. It is really depressing that British agencies and their employees—specifically, Sarah Melo—continue to treat court rulings with contempt and disregard them in spite of multiple rulings.

The FCT High Court has additionally issued an order directing the service, registration, and enforcement of these many judgements in multiple nations, including the United Kingdom.