The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been ordered to release
Colonel Ojogbane Adegbe, the Aide De Camp (ADC)to former president Goodluck
Jonathan – Adegbe was detained at the instance of the Nigerian army – He was
accused by the EFCC of delivering a brief case containing N10 billion from
Jonathan to a former special assistant on domestic affairs to the former
president, Waripamowe Dudafa An Abuja High Court has ordered the release of the
Aide De Camp to the former president, Goodluck Jonathan, Colonel Ojogbane
Adegbe.
At the hearing today, March 1, the
judge Yusuf Halilu ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
to release Ojogbane Adegbe on bail.
He ruled that Adegbe be released on bail on very liberal terms pending arraignment for any offence which he might have committed. Halilu also said that the law must be handled evenly between an individual and the government. He also condemned EFCC for reducing the anti-graft agency to a police station which now operates outside the ambit of law. Prior to his ruling, the applicants counsel, Ogwu Onoja told the court that Adegbe had been moved from the EFCC to a military facility. He also argued that EFCC’s action violated Articles 5, 6 and 12 of the African Charter on human and peoples’ rights. While Onoja’s allegation received no objection from the EFCC’s counsel, the judge said his ruling on Adegbe’s release is not binding to the EFCC alone but to any government agency currently detaining the applicant. Adegbe was detained by the EFCC on Thursday, February 11 after he was called back from a military course in the United Kingdom. Upon his return to Nigeria he was released to the EFCC by the army provost Marshal for interrogation on his involvement in delivering a concealed parcel from the former president. Following a prolonged detention by the EFCC, Adegbe filed a suit against the commission over infringement on his fundamental human rights.
He also sued the commission N100 million damages for his continued and unlawful detention. However few days after he filed a suit against the EFCC, the commission released him back to the army. Last week, the EFCC had told the court that Colonel Adegbe was detained at the instance of the Nigerian army.
He ruled that Adegbe be released on bail on very liberal terms pending arraignment for any offence which he might have committed. Halilu also said that the law must be handled evenly between an individual and the government. He also condemned EFCC for reducing the anti-graft agency to a police station which now operates outside the ambit of law. Prior to his ruling, the applicants counsel, Ogwu Onoja told the court that Adegbe had been moved from the EFCC to a military facility. He also argued that EFCC’s action violated Articles 5, 6 and 12 of the African Charter on human and peoples’ rights. While Onoja’s allegation received no objection from the EFCC’s counsel, the judge said his ruling on Adegbe’s release is not binding to the EFCC alone but to any government agency currently detaining the applicant. Adegbe was detained by the EFCC on Thursday, February 11 after he was called back from a military course in the United Kingdom. Upon his return to Nigeria he was released to the EFCC by the army provost Marshal for interrogation on his involvement in delivering a concealed parcel from the former president. Following a prolonged detention by the EFCC, Adegbe filed a suit against the commission over infringement on his fundamental human rights.
He also sued the commission N100 million damages for his continued and unlawful detention. However few days after he filed a suit against the EFCC, the commission released him back to the army. Last week, the EFCC had told the court that Colonel Adegbe was detained at the instance of the Nigerian army.
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