Jonathan's cousin to petitions Reps over alleged illegal arrest by EFCC
Fri May 06, 2016 08:59:am National
4.4K By sosa hills
The arrest and detention of former President Goodluck Jonathan's cousin, Mr Azibaolo Robert, yesterday took another dimension as his family petitioned the leadership of the House of Representatives over alleged illegal arrest, detention, abuse and violation of his fundamental human right by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Recall that it was reported that the operatives of the EFCC took Robert into custody on 23rd March, 2016 and has since spent over a month in detention, without any formal charge being brought against him.
In the petition signed by one Faith Robert and presented to the House by Hon Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), the aggrieved petitioner urged the leadership of the House to intervene in his ordeal with a view to restoring his rights.
The petition reads: "Mr Azibaola Robert is the Managing Director of Kakatar Engineering and Construction Company Limited and its sister company, One Plus Holdings Limited.
"He is a cousin to former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and a law-abiding and peace loving Nigerian.
"Recently, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested the said Mr Azibaola Robert over allegations of a 40 million dollar-contract with the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
"The contract was awarded to One Plus Holdings Limited for the surveillance and security of oil pipelines across the Niger Delta.
"The ONSA is at present indebted to the company (One Plus Holdings Limited) to about four million dollars, being final payment for the said surveillance/oil pipeline security contract,'' the petition stated.
According to it, Mr. Robert was arrested and taken into EFCC custody on March 23, 2016 and has since spent over a month in EFCC detention, without any formal charge brought against him.
"Preceding his arrest, however, was a raid on his house by scores of heavily armed mobile policemen who in the process subjected his wife and young children to the most dehumanising and traumatic ordeal.
"In EFCC custody, Mr Azibaola Robert has been denied access to his family, lawyers and medical care and repeatedly bullied, harassed, threatened and psychologically traumatised by EFCC operatives, and no formal charge brought against him.
"Curiously, his interrogators have told him in very clear terms to say something to implicate former President Goodluck Jonathan, his cousin as a ‘front' or beneficiary of the contract, else he would face the `Dasuki treatment'.
"We note the clear provisions of Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, dealing with Fundamental Rights, particularly the right to dignity of the human person (S.34), right to personal liberty (S.35) and right to fair hearing (S. 36).`
"Equally instructive is the fact that upon an application for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights, a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on April 7, 2016 granted Mr Azibaola Robert bail,'' the petition said. NAN
Recall that it was reported that the operatives of the EFCC took Robert into custody on 23rd March, 2016 and has since spent over a month in detention, without any formal charge being brought against him.
In the petition signed by one Faith Robert and presented to the House by Hon Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), the aggrieved petitioner urged the leadership of the House to intervene in his ordeal with a view to restoring his rights.
The petition reads: "Mr Azibaola Robert is the Managing Director of Kakatar Engineering and Construction Company Limited and its sister company, One Plus Holdings Limited.
"He is a cousin to former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and a law-abiding and peace loving Nigerian.
"Recently, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested the said Mr Azibaola Robert over allegations of a 40 million dollar-contract with the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
"The contract was awarded to One Plus Holdings Limited for the surveillance and security of oil pipelines across the Niger Delta.
"The ONSA is at present indebted to the company (One Plus Holdings Limited) to about four million dollars, being final payment for the said surveillance/oil pipeline security contract,'' the petition stated.
According to it, Mr. Robert was arrested and taken into EFCC custody on March 23, 2016 and has since spent over a month in EFCC detention, without any formal charge brought against him.
"Preceding his arrest, however, was a raid on his house by scores of heavily armed mobile policemen who in the process subjected his wife and young children to the most dehumanising and traumatic ordeal.
"In EFCC custody, Mr Azibaola Robert has been denied access to his family, lawyers and medical care and repeatedly bullied, harassed, threatened and psychologically traumatised by EFCC operatives, and no formal charge brought against him.
"Curiously, his interrogators have told him in very clear terms to say something to implicate former President Goodluck Jonathan, his cousin as a ‘front' or beneficiary of the contract, else he would face the `Dasuki treatment'.
"We note the clear provisions of Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, dealing with Fundamental Rights, particularly the right to dignity of the human person (S.34), right to personal liberty (S.35) and right to fair hearing (S. 36).`
"Equally instructive is the fact that upon an application for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights, a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on April 7, 2016 granted Mr Azibaola Robert bail,'' the petition said. NAN
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