Connect with us

Politics

For being dumped in detention, ex-minister Mohammed sues ‎EFCC for N100m

Published

on

After 36 days in EFCC custody, ex-FCT Minister Mohammed gets bail

‎Mr. Bala Mohammed, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for N100 million for dumping him in detention without bail since October 24.

This is as he filed a fundamental human right suit before the High Court of the FCT against the EFCC, claiming in his 15-paragraph affidavit filed in support of the suit, that he was invited by the EFCC to report to its office on October 24, 2016 in association with investigation into alleged ‘lases of conspiracy, abuse of office and money laundering’.

Umar Aliyu Usman, who is deposed to the affidavit, argued that Mohammed voluntarily reported to the EFCC on October 24, 2016 and was straightaway arrested and detained till date.

According to him, the anti-graft agency has since then dumped and abandoned Mohammed in a cell instead of granting him bail. He added that he has being suffering considerable deterioration of his health and untold psychological trauma and mental torture.

In the suit filed by Chief Chris Uche (SAN) his counsel and marked FCT/CV/220/2016, the applicant is asking the court for an order compelling and directing the EFCC to release him on bail forthwith or immediately arraign him before a competent court of law for trial.

Read also: The many battles of EFCC boss Magu for confirmation

He sought among others, a declaration that his arrest and detention since October 24, 2016 till date by the commission was illegal, unlawful, unreasonable, unjustified and unconstitutional; that he is entitled to be released on bail by the EFCC pending the investigation of allegations against him and pending any arraignment before a court of law.

He also prayed for an order of court enforcing and restoring his fundamental right to personal liberty as enshrined and guaranteed by section 35 of the 1999 constitution, which has been violated and is being violated by the respondent. He asked for the sum of N100 million as special and general damages against the EFCC for his illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional arrest and detention.

Meanwhile, Justice Baba Yusuf, who is handling the case has fixed November 24 for hearing.
By Ebere Ndukwu …

 

 

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now

Click to comment

0 Comments

  1. Roland Uchendu Pele

    November 22, 2016 at 9:35 am

    The word ‘dump’ is actually an understatement. EFCC needs to be taught some lessons on basic human rights!

    • JOHNSON PETER

      November 22, 2016 at 11:01 am

      And who will teach efcc the lesson? No one dares them.

  2. Margret Dickson

    November 22, 2016 at 4:26 pm

    This ministers need to start experiencing what common men are going through in the hands of law enforcement agents. If it’s okay for a common citizen to be detained for over a month, I see nothing wrong in detaining an ex-minister for a year, at least.

  3. Johnson Amadi

    November 22, 2016 at 4:27 pm

    I hope he wins the case, because EFCC deserves to pay for the psychological trauma they subjected him too.

    • yanju omotodun

      November 22, 2016 at 10:21 pm

      He also psychologically stole our money.

  4. Nonso Ezeugo

    November 23, 2016 at 4:27 am

    Sometimes i ask this question don’t our EFCC don’t make use of there brain before arresting someone what is Muhammad crime that he was detain just like that. Our efcc should be consion on how they make arrest

  5. Amaka Okoro

    November 23, 2016 at 4:34 am

    Muhammad has the right to sue the efcc for 100 million because efcc has really fuck up how can they arrest someone detain him without no good prove

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

fourteen − 1 =