Former Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro,
has dragged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
before a Federal High Court in Lagos over an alleged breach of
his fundamental human rights.
Obanikoro who is currently in the U.S. is demanding the sum of
N100m as general damages for the alleged unlawful and
unconstitutional forceful seizure, detention and/or freezing of
several items, properties and personal effects belonging to him
and members of his family by the EFCC on June 14, 2016.
Other applicants in the suit are Mrs. Fati Obanikoro, Alhaja
Moroophat Obanikoro, Gbolahan Obanikoro and Babajide
Obanikoro.
The EFCC had last Tuesday raided the Ikoyi, Lagos homes of the
former minister over his alleged involvement in the $2.1bn arms
deal under the Jonathan administration.
But a suit, filed on his behalf by his lawyer, Chief Ogwu Onoja
(SAN) on Thursday, also asked the court to restrain the
Respondent, EFCC, whether by its officers, servants, privies,
assigns or agents from arresting/detaining, harassing any of
the applicants or their relatives pending the hearing and
determination of the suit.
The applicants are also praying the court to restrain the
commission from further entering their premises and an order
directing the EFCC to tender an unreserved public apology to
them for the unlawful action.
The applicants are also asking the court to set aside the forceful
seizure, detention and/or freezing of several items, properties/
personal effects and 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 constitutes a gross violation of their fundamental
rights as guaranteed under Section 43 of the 1999 Constitution
and Article 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’
Rights.
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