Former Minister of State for Defence,
Musiliu Obanikoro, friday slammed a N100 million suit on the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the Federal High Court in
Lagos over an alleged breached of his fundamental human rights.
This suit came at the heels of the
recent raid by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on
Obanikoro’s Ikoyi, Lagos home.
In a statement by his media aide,
Jonathan Eze, the former minister is demanding the sum as general
damages for the alleged unlawful and unconstitutional seizure and
detention of several items, properties and personal effects belonging to
him and family by the EFCC on June 24, 2016.
Other applicants in the suit are: Mrs. Fati Obanikoro, Alhaja Moroophat Obanikoro, Gbolahon Obanikoro and Babajide Obanikoro.
Obanikoro in the fundamental rights
enforcement suit, filed on his behalf by his lawyer, Chief Ogwu Onoja
(SAN) , is also praying the court to restrain the EFCC whether by its
officers, Servants, privies, assigns or agents from arresting,
detaining, harassing any of the applicants or any of their relatives
pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
The statement reads: “The applicants
also want the court to restrain the commission from further entering
their premises and an order Directing it to tender an unreserved public
apology to them for the unlawful action.
“They are also asking the court to
direct the respondent to release all the items, properties and personal
effects seized from their premises.
” The applicants further want the court
to hold that the action of the EFCC constitute a gross violation of
their fundamental rights as guarantee under section 43 of the 1999
Constitution and Article 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’
Rights.
“In a 15 paragraphs affidavit attached
to the suit and sworn to by Mrs. Fati Obanikoro, states that on June 14
some officials of the EFCC numbering about 20 stormed their premises
situated at 10 Mojisola Onikoyi Street, by Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos
and took away several items.
” She also alleged that the respondent
thereafter proceeded to also search the personal house of the former
Minister at 4 Layi Ajayi-Bembe road, Parkview, Ikoyi, Lagos
“She also claimed that before the
alleged invasion of the premises there was no prior notice by way of
letter or invitation served on any of the applicants and there was also
no order of court mandating them to carry out the action.
” She listed some of the items seized by
the Commission to include: building plans, cheque leaflets, company
documents, car keys, phones, two company seals and six company stam
“The applicant further averred that the
EFCC officials claimed that they are investigating the former Minister
and two of his children but some of the properties taken away do not
belong to them.
“She also insisted that unless the court issued an order compelling the commission, it will not return the seized properties.”
However, no date has been set for the hearing of the suit.
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