Chief magistrate B.O Osunsanmi of a Lagos Magistrate Court sitting in
Ikeja on Friday ordered that Robert Azibaola a cousin to former President
Goodluck Jonathan be ramnded in the custody of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending the completion of investigation into an
alleged diversion of $40 million dollars through One-Plus Holdings, a
sister company of Kakatar Construction Limited which was for securing oil
pipelines.
The payment was said to have been made by the detained former National
Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
Robert Aziboala who has been in EFCC custody since 23rd of March 2016 has
challenged his detention by the commission .
He approached a high court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the
enforcement of his fundamental human rights In a motion ex-parte dated and
filed on April 5 and brought pursuant to Order 5 Rules 3 and 4 of the
fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009, Section 35 of the
1999 Constitution (as amended) praying the court to grant hm an interim
bail pending his arraignment before a court of law by the respondent
(EFCC) or pending the determination of the substantive motion in this
suit.”
Justice Goodluck Olasunbor of the Federal Capital Territory held that
Robert’s detention by the EFCC for over two weeks was unconstitutional.
Justice Olasunbor said that the applicant(Robert) had disclosed sufficient
evidence before the court to warrant the granting of his reliefs. Relying
on the exact provision of the constitution the judge averred that under
section 35 (5) of the said provision , the constitution provides that a
person who is under arrest or detention shall be brought before a court of
law within reasonable time
The judge however admitted him to bail pending his arraignment before a
court of law or pending the determination of the substantive motion on
notice in this suit,” the judge said.
However said the applicant’s bail shall be with two sureties. Each surety
shall be a serving or retired Director in any of the federal government
ministries or parastatal and must be resident within the federal capital
territory. The applicant shall deposit his international passport to the
Chief Registrar of this Court.
In the same vein, the court ordered the EFCC to release Robert’s colleague
and Executive Director of Kakatar Construction and Engineering Company
Limited, Mr. Dakoru Atukpa who had also been in detention for the same
period.
A new twist however transpired as Robert was moved from Abuja to Lagos by
the EFCC only to be taken to the Lagos Magistrate court Ikeja asking for
an order for his detention which was granted Robert’s counsel, Gboyega
Oyewole described as unfortunate the disregard of an order of court by the
EFCC is an afront to his clients and the constitution . ” It is unlawful
and and the commission should be called to order”.
He said, ” Robert ought to be enjoying the bail granted him by the FCT
high court . EFCC did not disclose this to the Lagos magistrate court ,
Justice Osunsanmmi . The EFCC had tried to extend the remand order from
the magistrate court in the Federal capital but had met a brick in the
light of the subsisting order by Justice Olasumbo of the Abuja high court
releasing him on bail.
Another counsel to Azibaola, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) said, ý”This is
scandalous to say the least. It is a sad irony that a Commission that
claims that nobody is above the law is portraying itself as being above
the law.ý
“What they did in Lagos is forum shopping and an abuse of court process.
They knew that such impunity will not work in Abuja, the reason they went
to Lagos to continue the illegal detention of my client using the guise of
fresh charges against him. This is ýan unfortunate attemtpt to undermine
the positive order of the court and overreach the order to release my
client on bail. We shall take all necessary steps to ýensure that this
impunity does not stand.
The matter before the Lagos magistrate court was adjourned to 23rd May.
Robert was however remanded at the EFCC custody