Former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has approached a Kano State High Court sitting in Gezawa to restrain the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from denying him his fundamental human rights by arresting him.
Kwankwaso, through his lawyer, Barrister Okechukwu Eze, told the court on Wednesday how EFCC threat of arrest has confined him to his residence in Abuja.
Addressing the court on the experte motion filed to restrain the anti-corruption agency from arresting his client, Eze explained that the move by the EFCC, if executed, would deny the former governor his fundamental rights.
Eze said: “My client has been in his house over the threat of arrest by the EFCC and have been denied the liberty to perform his legislative duties as mandated by voters of Kano central District”, adding that the action of the EFCC was predicated on a petition by an ‘unregistered association that has no written address.
“We have expressive fear that Kwankwaso’s right to liberty, freedom of movement as guaranteed under the constitution is likely to be violated by EFCC”, Barrister Eze stressed.
Though, the counsel admitted that the “EFCC has the power to investigate financial crimes”, he however insisted that “it should be based and founded on reasonable suspicion”
He argued that Senator Kwankwaso did not violate pension laws to warrant his invitation by the anti-graft agency, insisting that his client deserved applause for bringing surpluses to the pension fund.
He thereafter prayed the court to restraint the EFCC from arresting him and that the status quo ante should be maintained pending the determination of the suit.
The presiding Judge, Justice Mohammed Yahaya reserved rulings till Thursday.
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