A closed associate to the Governor of Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, Abiodun Agbele, has instituted a N500 million suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over his detention without trial.
EFCC had on June 27 arrested Agbele over an alleged N1.3bn traced to the personal account of the Ekiti State Governor.
The commission claimed Agbele was a conduit through which the said sum from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, was paid to the governor during the build up to the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State.
Agbele, in the suit filed by his lawyers, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Olalekan Ojo before a Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court in Abuja described his detention by the anti-graft agency as illegal.
He prayed the court to award him the sum of N500m as damages for the alleged unlawful arrest and detention.
Citing relevant sections of the 1999 constitution as amended, Agbele sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights to liberty, human dignity and acquisition of properties.
Agbele also urged Justice Olukayode Adeniyi to order the agency to effect his immediate release.
Counsel to EFCC, Raymond Ezekiel, at the commencement of the matter, yesterday prayed the court for an adjournment till today.
According to Ezekiel, this was to allow him time to respond to the constitutional issues raised by the applicant in the suit.
Despite Ozekhome’s objection, Justice Adeniyi adjourned the matter till today.
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