By Ishaya Ibrahim
The continuous detention of Monday Ubani, a lawyer, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) despite a court ruling by a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, has elicited the anger of many Nigerians.
Ubani and a former lawmaker, Christopher Enai were being held for standing as surety to a former chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Ngozi Olejeme who has since been missing.
After the EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu dodged the service of the court on him to either release Ubani and Enai or charge them to court, Ozekhome had again approached the court to complain that the court bailiff, Ishaya Marcus was prevented by armed operatives of the EFCC from seeing the chairman unless he has a schedule appointment.
The Judge, Justice Silvanus Oriji then ordered a substituted service on any officer at the mail registry of the EFCC Chairman, the legal department at the headquarters in Jabi or to be pasted at the gate of the EFCC’s head office.
The brazen impunity of the EFCC to refuse to release Ubani or charge him to court as demanded by the law has been described as shocking by many Nigerians who called on a Star FM phone-in programme.
Ubani is a former President of the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the immediate 1st Vice President of the NBA. He has remained in detention since March 19.