Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin, Azibaola Robert, has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to order his release from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC’s) custody.
Robert, a lawyer and environmental activist, is held for alleged financial crimes.
EFCC said it is investigating the alleged payment of $40 million to Robert in September 2014 by former National Security Adviser Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), for supplying “tactical communication kits”.
The commission said he received another N650 million from Dasuki on December 8, 2014.
Robert sued the EFCC, attorney-general of the federation and the Federal Government for his continued detention.
His lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, yesterday, said his client honoured an invitation to EFCC’s Abuja office, on March 23, and has been detained since then.
Robert prayed the court to stop the Federal Government from applying for a new remand warrant against him because it was a ploy to keep him in custody indefinitely.
He asked the court to hold that sections 293 and 294 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which the EFCC relied on, were for murder, armed robbery, kidnapping or treasonable felony for which a legal advice from the attorney-general was required. He said the sections do not apply to financial crimes.
Robert also prayed the court to hold that EFCC’s alleged attempt to force him to implicate Jonathan was contrary to Section 7 of the ACJA, which he said outlawed the practice of arresting a citizen in lieu of another.
The applicant said the Federal Government engaged him to meet with stakeholders in the Niger Delta to explore how to prevent oil pipelines vandalism, oil bunkering and crude oil theft, among others. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Jonathan's rogue cousin will soon get tired of shakara and confess and refund stolen cash..we are used to sue.sue tactics
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