Raid on Onnoghen: Fani-Kayode, Odumakin drag EFCC, Police, DSS to Court

Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, and the spokesman
of Pan-Yoruba group Afenifere, Chief Yinka Odumakin have jointly
dragged the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to a
Federal High Court in Abuja in pursuit of the enforcement of their
fundamental rights.

Also joined in the suit are the Department of State Services (DSS) and
the Nigeria Police Force (NPS).

The suit has to do with a threat by the EFCC to arrest and detain the
opposition figures for purportedly using the social media to peddle
falsehood against the commission for "raiding the home" of the
embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen.

According to a copy of the originating summons sighted by DAILY POST
in Abuja, which was marked FHC/ABJ/CS/49/2019 and dated 17th January
2019, the duo approached the Court for "A DECLARATION that the
Respondent's public declaration to arrest the Applicants on the bases
of spreading false rumours, is an infringement of the Applicants
rights and breach of their fundamental rights enshrined…" in the 1999
constitution (as amended).

"AN ORDER enforcing the Applicants' fundamental rights and ordering
the Respondents to stop issuing threat of unlawful arrest…"

"AN ORDER OF INJUNCTION" protecting the Applicants from indiscriminate
arrest by restraining the Respondents from threatening, harassing,
intimidating, inviting, arresting or detaining the Applicants, by the
Respondents, their privies or agents."

Fani-Kayode and Odumakin, also demanded for the sum of twenty million
naira (N20m) "as damages for the unlawful threat" against them.

Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume (SAN), former Attorney-General of Imo State, who
filed the case on behalf of the plaintiffs, will stand in for them.

Meanwhile, the Spokesman of the EFCC, Mr. Tony Orilade, while
representing the Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu, at a
conference organised by the Online Publishers Association of Nigeria
(OPAN), had publicly threatened to invite both Fani-Kayode and
Odumakin for questioning.

He added that if they failed to honour "the invitation within 48
hours" they will be arrested. And if they honour the invitation but
fail to give useful information they will be detained.

He claimed that it was Chief Fani-Kayode and Chief Odumakin that
initiated the rumours through their tweet and video, respectfully.

The Spokesman also vowed that despite that the video had been deleted
and the tweet pulled down, with apology, the Commission will not
forgive the duo because according to him, it was a serious issue
capable of setting the country ablaze.