In a significant legal move, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has filed a lawsuit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing the anti-graft agency of planning to arrest, detain, and prosecute him after his term concludes.
The suit, instituted by Sanwo-Olu’s lawyer, Darlington Ozurumba, was argued before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
In the suit designated FHC/ABJ/CS/773/2024, Ozurumba insisted that the EFCC’s alleged threats violate fundamental rights enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, specifically those guaranteeing personal liberty, privacy, and protection from arbitrary detention.
Citing Sections 35, 37, 41, 43, and 44 of the 1999 Constitution, the legal action contended that these actions by the EFCC infringe on the governor’s constitutionally protected freedoms.
The governor’s legal team raised seven central questions in the lawsuit, seeking eleven forms of relief aimed at curbing what they describe as “unconstitutional threats” from the EFCC.
Among these, Sanwo-Olu demands a judicial declaration confirming that any actions by the EFCC to arrest, detain, or prosecute him are unlawful, given his rights as a citizen.
Additionally, the governor has requested the court to issue an injunction preventing the EFCC from harassing, intimidating, or detaining him over alleged misconduct tied to his time in office.
In an affidavit submitted by Martha Kanu, a litigation secretary with Sanwo-Olu’s legal team, it is alleged that the EFCC has pressured several of his aides and contractors to make statements implicating him in misconduct.
Kanu further claimed that political adversaries are capitalizing on these accusations to undermine Sanwo-Olu’s administration by portraying it as corrupt.
Sanwo-Olu’s legal demands extend to protecting his assets and those of his family members.
He asked the court to restrict the EFCC from seizing any property, bank accounts, or travel documents linked to him or his family.
According to the governor, these protections are essential to safeguarding his rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement, and property ownership as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human & Peoples’ Rights.
The EFCC, represented in court by Hadiza Afegbua, stated that it had not yet received the most recent court filings, prompting Justice Abdulmalik to adjourn the case for a further hearing on November 11.
This delay provides the EFCC with time to review the updated documentation and prepare a response.
Sanwo-Olu, who secured a second term in office on May 29, 2023, has framed this lawsuit as a fundamental defence of his civil rights amid concerns about his post-tenure treatment.
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