A call on DSS not to release Bawa until the EFCC complies with thousands of court valid orders & judgments
By Nkereuwem Udofia Akpan
I find the above article rather interesting and with mixed emotions on account of the misleading caption and absurdity of a veneer of respectability accorded same while underneath the surface is the cancer that the EFCC itself as a body has foisted on the ordinary citizens since its inception. Here is why.
On 12th of February, a lady was arrested by the EFCC at Access Bank in Wuse 2 and detained in the Bank vault, and molested. I was instructed to go and secure her release from that illegal detention inside the Bank. On getting to the Bank I was arrested and detained by overzealous EFCC officials and detained in a dimly lit rat-infested underground cell without trial for 8 days incommunicado.
On 25th May 2010, exactly 13 years ago, in Chief Nkereuwem Udofia Akpan v EFCC and 2 Others Suit No FCT/ HC/ CV/495/2010 his Lordship the honourable justice Chinedu Sylvester Oriji delivered judgment for the enforcement of my Fundamental Rights declared my arrest and detention illegal and unconstitutional and made both monetary and declaratory orders
On 13 August 2017 in Appeal No CAA)282/2013 the Court of Appeal Abuja (Coram their lordships Emmanuel Akomaye Agim JCA (Read the leading judgment) Tlinuade Akomolafe Wilson JCA and Tani Yusuf Hassan JCA in a unanimous decision affirmed the judgment of the trial court and added that aside from the monetary judgment, the EFCC should tender an apology to me for the illegal arrest and detention. Till date the EFCC has not appealed the monetary judgment and has refused to comply with the judgment as an institution which sees itself as above the law.
Despite several letters and correspondences successive Chairmen of EFCC refused to obey the orders of the Court or appeal the monetary judgment made by Oriji J 13 years ago. I was told in EFCC legal department that I should GO TO COURT
I hope Bawa should remain in detention for 13 years too maybe the current leadership of EFCC and other law enforcement agencies will take a cue from that and start obeying all the pending Court Orders gathering dust in the EFCC legal department
I call on the DSS chairman please not to release Bawa please let EFCC GO TO COURT
Chief Nkereuwem Udofia Akpan Constitutional Lawyer and Human Rights Activist writes from Abuja
Follow on Twitter @Chiefnkereuwrm
