The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered the arrest of the immediate-past Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori.

Justice Suleman Belgore issued the warrant of arrest following an ex parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission accusing the suspect of diverting N400m worth of vehicles belonging to the parliament.

The anti-graft agency’s application was moved by its lawyer, Mr S. N. Robert.

The commission said it resorted to applying for the arrest warrant against the suspect following repeated invitations for questioning rebuffed by him.

Ruling on the application, Justice Belgore referred to “paragraph 7 of the supporting affidavit and Exhibit EFCC 4 wherein the respondent was said to have ignored invitations to report in the applicant’s office without any justifiable reason.”

The judge added, “It is clear to me that Section 3 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, can be invoked in the circumstances of this case in granting this application and I so do.

“Warrant of immediate arrest is hereby issued against Alhaji Mohammed Sani Omolori, the former Clerk of the National Assembly forthwith.”

In the EFCC’s application, marked M/8728/2020, the commission stated that its investigation of the ex-clerk was sparked by a petition it received accusing  Omolori and other management staff of the National Assembly of diverting 14 Toyota Hilux vehicles and 13 Peugeot 508 worth over N400m belonging to the National Assembly.

The commission said it had questioned the Secretary of the National Assembly Commission, Adamu Mohammed Fika, Mr Oluseye Ajakaye and others, whom it claimed pointed accusing fingers at Sani-Omolori in respect of the case.