The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss an application by a former Minister of State for Finance, Mrs. Nenadi Usman seeking to summon Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed for publishing her name as an alleged looter.

Mrs. Usman, who is on trial for alleged money laundering before Justice Rilwan Aikawa, initiated contempt proceedings before the same judge against Mohammed after he released her name as one of Nigeria’s treasury looters.

In his submission, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo described Usman’s application as ‘parasitic’ and a ploy to delay her trial. He argued that Mrs. Usman ought to have filed a separate civil suit for libel against Mohammed rather than  initiating contempt proceedings before the same judge under whom she was undergoing trial.

In a motion on notice filed through her lawyer, Chief Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), Mrs. Usman argued that the inclusion of her name on the looters’ list while her case was pending in court was contemptuous.

According to her, the Minister of Information was aware of the charge against her, yet he had cause to publish a list of looters in several media platforms on April 1, where her name featured prominently as having looted ₦1.5 billion.

Orbih urged the court to grant his client leave for Mohammed to appear to show cause as to why he should not be committed to prison for contempt.

Orbih argued further that Mohammed’s publication of Usman’s name as a looter undermined the authority of the court, adding that should the court fail to punish Mohammed, its integrity would be questioned by the public.

Oyedepo however argued that the newspaper publications cited by Orbih did not expressly declare Usman as a looter, noting that the said  reports used the expression ‘alleged looter’ which he said was in conformity with the charge levelled against Usman.

“There is nowhere in Exhibit A (newspaper report), where the defendant is described as a looter of public treasury. What was published is an allegation which is yet to be proven,” Oyedepo said.

Oyedepo also disagreed with Orbih that the contempt issue must be determined before trial can proceed, maintaining that anyone who claims that his or her reputation has been maligned should seek remedy in court.

The EFCC had re-arraigned Usman and former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode for alleged ₦4.6 billion fraud, to which they had pleaded not guilty.

The duo were charged alongside the former Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) and ex-Chairman of Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Mr. Yusuf Danjuma and a company, Jointrust Dimensions Nigeria Limited.

The EFCC accused them of indirectly retaining ₦300 million, ₦400 million and ₦800 million, all proceeds of corruption, a crime the anti-graft agency said they allegedly committed between January 8 and March 25, 2015.

The case has been adjourned till October 16 and 19 for ruling.