The Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) to immediately release former Kaduna lawmaker, Shehu Sani.
Operatives of EFCC on Thursday reportedly invaded the Abuja residence of
Senator Shehu Sani over alleged extortion.
It was gathered that the EFCC
officials stormed the apartment in Wuse, Abuja at about 3:30pm on Wednesday to
look for incriminating evidence against the former Kaduna senator.
This is following arrest of Sani
last week for alleged extortion of $20,000 from the owner of ASD Motors.
The government critic, who
represented Kaduna central senatorial district between 2015 and 2019, allegedly
collected money from Sani Dauda, owner of ASD Motors, promising to pass it on
to Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the anti-graft agency.
Reacting, in a post on its
official Twitter page, SERAP called on EFCC to charge Sani with a recognizable
criminal offence rather than prolonging his detention.
The group noted that the
continued detention of Sani without charge was against the principle of being
innocent until proven guilty.
SERAP, therefore, urged the
anti-graft agency to release Sani on bail pending investigation.
The post reads: “EFCC should
immediately release activist Shehu Sani detained on allegations of extortion or
charge him with a recognizable criminal offende.
“By prolonging his detention
without charge or trial, Mr Sani is being treated like a convicted criminal, in
violation of national and international law.
“The continued detention of Mr
Sani without charge is against the principle of being innocent until proven
guilty.
“Nigeria is a state party to the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 9 of the ICCPR
states that “anyone who is arrested shall be brought promptly before a judge or
other officer authorized by law to exercise judicial power.”
“There are similar provisions in
the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended).
“The EFCC should promptly
investigate any allegations against Mr Sani and release him on bail pending the
conclusion of any such investigation.”
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