Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has filed a lawsuit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He claims the agency plans to arrest and prosecute him after his tenure ends.
Sanwo-Olu’s legal representative, Darlington Ozurumba, submitted a fundamental rights enforcement suit in the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik is presiding over the case.
The hearing took place on Tuesday, where Ozurumba informed the court that an updated document had been filed.
“The anti-graft agency has been duly served with the latest court documents,” he stated.
However, the EFCC’s lawyer, Hadiza Afegbua, replied, “I have yet to see the documents.”
This led Justice Abdulmalik to adjourn the case until November 11 for further mention.
In the court documents, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/773/2024, Sanwo-Olu presented seven questions and sought 11 legal reliefs.
At the heart of his claims is a request to affirm his constitutional right to privacy.
According to the summons, “The plaintiff, as a citizen of Nigeria, is entitled to the right to private and family life.”
Sanwo-Olu argues that he has the right to own and manage property and bank accounts during and after his tenure, as stated in Sections 43 and 44(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
He also insists that any investigation or arrest threatened by the EFCC would be unconstitutional.
Such actions, he claims, violate his rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement.
The governor further describes the EFCC’s actions as politically motivated.
“This constitutes a misuse of executive powers and an abuse of public office,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu believes these threats infringe upon his rights to fair hearing and equal protection under the law.
Among his requests, Sanwo-Olu seeks an order to stop the EFCC from “harassing, intimidating, arresting, detaining, interrogating or prosecuting him” regarding his actions as governor.
He also requests that the court prevent the EFCC from seizing his assets, international passport, or those of his family members.
In addition, he seeks to protect his bank accounts from being frozen.
Sanwo-Olu argues that any form of invitation or arrest related to his tenure would infringe on his rights.
In a supporting affidavit, Martha Kanu, a litigation secretary in Sanwo-Olu’s law firm, claims the EFCC is planning to arrest the governor’s aides and family members.
She accuses the commission of using “false and spurious allegations of fund diversion” against them.
Kanu asserts, “Officials of the commission are mounting pressure on the governor’s aides to make incriminating statements against him.”
The affidavit also suggests that contractors working on Lagos State projects are being pressured to implicate Sanwo-Olu in corruption.
“In a malicious attempt to target the plaintiff, some political adversaries, in collaboration with certain officials of the defendant, are falsely associating the plaintiff’s administration with non-existent corrupt practices,” Kanu alleged.
She claims EFCC officials are “inventing false, spurious, and malicious allegations” to justify investigations against the governor.
This legal battle raises serious questions about the EFCC’s motives and actions.
The EFCC was established to combat corruption and financial crimes in Nigeria.
However, critics argue that it sometimes targets political figures for political gain.
Sanwo-Olu’s case highlights the ongoing tensions between political leaders and anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria.
The governor’s lawsuit could have significant implications for how the EFCC operates.
Many Nigerians are watching this case closely.
It could set a precedent for future interactions between public officials and the EFCC.
As the hearing date approaches, the atmosphere is charged with uncertainty.
Sanwo-Olu’s supporters view this lawsuit as a necessary stand against what they perceive as political persecution.
