Former Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, has instituted a legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before a Federal High Court in Lagos.
Obanikoro who sued the anti-graft agency for an alleged breach of fundamental human rights is demanding the sum of N100m as general damages.
The former Minister in the suit filed by his lawyer, Chief Ogwu Onoja, SAN, accused the commission of unlawful and unconstitutional forceful seizure, detention and freezing of several items, property and personal effects belonging to him and members of his family on June 14, 2016 when they invaded his property in Ikoyi Lagos.
Recall that the anti-graft agency had last week stormed two houses of the former senator in Ikoyi Lagos State over over his alleged complexity in the $2.1bn arms deal under the immediate past administration.
The former senator is also asking the court to restrain operatives of the EFCC from arresting, detaining or harassing any of his relations pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
He also urged the court to stop the commission from further breaking into his premises and to tender an unreserved public apology for the invasion of his privacy.
Obanikoro further prayed the court to hold that the action of the EFCC was a gross violation of his fundamental rights as guaranteed under Section 43 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
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