A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Apo, Abuja, on Wednesday dismissed a fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed by a former Minister of Aviation Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, seeking an order releasing him from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Fani-Kayode, the spokesperson for the then Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation for the 2015 election, had filed the suit following his arrest by the EFCC on May 9, 2016 with respect to criminal allegations relating to diversion of funds meant for arms procurement to political campaigns.
The anti-graft agency arraigned him alongside a former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, who was the Director of Finance of the campaign organisation and others for money laundering before a Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday.
Justice Olukayode Adeniyi delivering judgment on the suit filed by Fani-Kayode to challenge his detention by the EFCC, held that the legal action lacked merit.
The judge held that the detention was not illegal since it was backed by an order of court.
Justice Adeniyi, however, faulted the practice by the EFCC of arresting and detaining a suspect for the purposes of investigation.
(Punch)
