Fayose’s ally, Agbele files N500m suit against EFCC

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Apo, Abuja, will on Friday hear a N500m suit filed by an ally of Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, Abiodun Agbele‎, seeking an order releasing him from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

‎Agbele was reportedly arrested on June 27 for his role in the handling of over N1.219bn on behalf of Fayose during the Ekiti State governorship election in 2014.

The money was said to have been part of the N4.7bn that was siphoned from the Office of the National Security Adviser and deposited into the bank account of a company belonging to the sons of a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro.

In his suit filed on his behalf by his lawyers – Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Olalekan Ojo – Agbele urged the court to declare his arrest and detention unlawful and award N500m as compensatory damages against the EFCC for his unlawful arrest and detention.

Agbele argued, in the fundamental rights enforcement suit, that his arrest and continued detention beyond the 48 hours allowed by the Constitution, amounted to violation of his rights to freedom of liberty, human dignity and the right to acquire and own properties.

He said unless and except the court comes to his rescue, the EFCC will continue to infringe on his rights to freedom of liberty.