Today, no fewer than three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) and the
Ilorin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), will be appearing
against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to enforce
fundamental human rights for their colleague, Sulyman Abaya.
Recall that Abaya was accused by the Ilorin Zonal office of the
commission of defrauding one Pastor Adetunji Adedoyin of his property
valued at N20million thereby forcing him to carry a placard with an
inscription of alleged criminal conspiracy, forgery and obtaining
money by false pretence.
Among the SANs who will be taking the case up with the EFCC are Joseph
Bamigboye and Wahab Egbewole, among others.
The SANs with the body of the NBA are of the opinion that action of
the anti-graft agency against their colleague is unwarranted,
unconstitutional and must be redress in court.
The NBA chairman, Muhammed Idowu Akande has vowed to lend support in
order to ensure his fundamental human rights is protected.
The suit will be heard by Justice Hameed Gegele of the Kwara State High Court.
In a motion, stop notice filed by no fewer than 15 legal
practitioners, they’re seeking an order of interlocutory injunction
restraining the respondents from further intimidating, harrassing and
embarrassing the applicant by way of arresting and detailing him or by
uploading and publishing his photograph on internet pending the
substantive application before the court.
The motion on notice however revealed how the applicant was arrested
and treated at the commission office.
It stated that the applicant was arrested in full glare of the public
within the High Court premises on 27th August, 2019 by the officer of
the EFCC in a despicable manner.
“After the arrest, the applicant was subjected to various degree of
psychological trauma which include coercing and forcing him to carry
placard with dehumanising inscription at gunpoint and snapping him
with same and subsequent malicious publication of the pictures on the
internet.
“While the applicant was released because of his exculpatory
statement, the two other lawyers are still being kept in the custody
of the commission and the applicant was subjected to media trial,” the
motion on notice divulged.
Meanwhile, Abaya, in a press conference held at the Ilorin NBA house,
disclosed that he was coerced at gun point by no fewer than two police
officers at the anti-graft agency’s office to carry placard despite
his effort to avert it.
He added that he was overpowered by the EFCC policemen after resisting
and protesting against the act for more than one hour.
“While at the EFCC custody, I clearly stated my story in connection
with the case as narrated above but despite my explanations and
notwithstanding that I was not confronted with any document I
allegedly forged or allegation that I collected money from anybody or
received money on behalf of anybody in connection with the case, the
officers of EFCC threatened and forced me against my will to carry
placard and took my photograph which they later uploaded on the
internet.
“The whole world has undoubtedly seen me carrying a placard. Please
retake a deep look at that picture and you will see that it was
hesitantly carried with one hand. For more than one hour, I resisted
and protested carrying the placard but EFCC called on two of its
mobile policemen who pointed gun at me and coerced me to carry it. As
soon as the picture was taken, EFCC released me and my car.
“I want to state categorically and contrary to the EFCC allegations
that I did not conspire with anybody, impersonate anybody and/or forge
any document in order to defraud the said Pastor Adedoyin of his
property at any point in my life. This fact can be confirmed from Mr.
Victor Okoji, Esq who is said to be Engr. Adedoyin’s lawyer.
