Court orders Akingbola’s release from EFCC custody.
The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday upheld the fundamental human rights case filed by the former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola, against the EFCC.
The EFCC had through its counsel, Joseph Daudu, filed the stay of proceeding to enable the commission to appeal an order of the court made on May 6.
The court had directed EFCC to immediately release Akingbola and one of his aides, Bayo Dada, from its custody.
Justice Charles Archibong had also ordered the EFCC to stay off all actions against Akingbola pending the determination of the suit before it.
He described the re- arrest and detention of the former bank chief by the EFCC as unlawful.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to Akingbola, Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN), informed the court that the EFCC served him with the application late on Tuesday and that he needed time to respond.
He also informed the court that the EFCC was yet to release his client as ordered by the court even though they had been served with a copy of the order.
The EFCC counsel, however, argued that the court could not go into the issue of why the order was not obeyed at this stage.
Justice Archibong dismissed the motion, saying that that the EFCC was in contempt of court.
After the ruling, Daudu informed the court that he was no longer interested in the proceedings and stormed out of the court with the other lawyers who appeared with him.
The court, thereafter, went ahead to listen to the fundamental human rights application filed by the embattled former bank chief and his aide and granted their prayers.
The court held that the arrest, detention, harassment and incarceration of Akingbola and Dada violated their fundamental rights, dignity of human person, personal liberty and freedom.
It further restrained the EFCC, whether by themselves or by their agents, servants, officers, privies or otherwise, however, from arresting and or detaining the applicants in any other manner.
The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday upheld the fundamental human rights case filed by the former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola, against the EFCC.
The EFCC had through its counsel, Joseph Daudu, filed the stay of proceeding to enable the commission to appeal an order of the court made on May 6.
The court had directed EFCC to immediately release Akingbola and one of his aides, Bayo Dada, from its custody.
Justice Charles Archibong had also ordered the EFCC to stay off all actions against Akingbola pending the determination of the suit before it.
He described the re- arrest and detention of the former bank chief by the EFCC as unlawful.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to Akingbola, Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN), informed the court that the EFCC served him with the application late on Tuesday and that he needed time to respond.
He also informed the court that the EFCC was yet to release his client as ordered by the court even though they had been served with a copy of the order.
The EFCC counsel, however, argued that the court could not go into the issue of why the order was not obeyed at this stage.
Justice Archibong dismissed the motion, saying that that the EFCC was in contempt of court.
After the ruling, Daudu informed the court that he was no longer interested in the proceedings and stormed out of the court with the other lawyers who appeared with him.
The court, thereafter, went ahead to listen to the fundamental human rights application filed by the embattled former bank chief and his aide and granted their prayers.
The court held that the arrest, detention, harassment and incarceration of Akingbola and Dada violated their fundamental rights, dignity of human person, personal liberty and freedom.
It further restrained the EFCC, whether by themselves or by their agents, servants, officers, privies or otherwise, however, from arresting and or detaining the applicants in any other manner.
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