Ruling on a case number CA/ow/139/2016, Benjamin Apugo v. the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Appeal Court Justice, Ita George Mbaba, ruled that the EFCC had no locus standi to take Apugo to court since he was served a bench warrant without giving him a notice. The EFCC had on October 11, 2016 arraigned Apugo on three counts of fraud before Justice D.E Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Umuahia. Counsel to the accused, R.M Udechukwu (SAN), prayed the court to uphold the administrative bail his client was enjoying. Justice Osigor ruled that the accused should be admitted to bail in the sum of N10m with two sureties in like sum, adding that the sureties must be civil servants not less than deputy directors and one of them must own a landed property in Umuahia and must deposit the title document with the court registrar. But the Appeal Court Justice ruled that since the lower court issued a bench warrant against the accused without serving him summons to appear in court, it amounted to judicial rascality and cannot stand. He also ruled that the lower court was unfit to entertain the matter since there was a pending application in the Appeal Court stopping it from ruling on the matter. He thereby quashed it. Apugo, who hailed the judgment, described it as a victory for truth and justice.]]>