The House of Representatives has launched a probe into British officials for allegedly flouting Nigerian court rulings that acquitted businessman Benedict Peters.
Officials from the National Crime Agency (NCA), Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), and investigator Sara Melo stand accused of undermining Nigerian judicial authority. They seemingly dismissed multiple rulings from Nigerian High Courts, absolving Peters, Aiteo Group’s CEO, of all charges. Despite these rulings, there are claims that British agencies continue to sully Peters’ name.
Representative Aliyu Mustapha presented the ACJHR’s petition to the House, demanding a decisive legislative investigation. This action seeks to uphold Nigeria’s judicial sovereignty and protect Peters from defamation.
The petition details that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) found no evidence against Peters in a 2015 investigation. However, there were attempts to intimidate Peters and seize his property. The EFCC’s subsequent warrant for Peters was deemed illegal by the courts.
The ACJHR’s petition calls for the cessation of assaults on Nigeria’s judicial integrity and citizens’ rights. It references a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court ruling that awarded N200 million to Peters after finding EFCC, NCA, and CPS representations faulty. The petitioners are concerned that, despite these unchallenged rulings, British authorities, especially Sara Melo, continue to overlook these legal decisions.
The Nigerian parliament now faces the task of safeguarding its judiciary’s decisions and its citizens from international interference. This legislative move could significantly affirm judicial sovereignty and maintain the rule of law.
