EFCC ordered by court to pay N5 million compensation to former Minister Bala Mohammed
Thu Apr 26, 2018 03:33:pm National
5.3K By franklyn Anude
Anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been ordered to pay a 5 million naira as compensation to former Minister of FCT, Malam Bala Mohammed, for infringing on his liberty.
The FCT Court made the pronouncement on Tuesday, after the former minister filed a motion on notice on November 16 before Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf for the enforcement of his fundamental rights which he claimed EFCC violated.
The former minister had been in the EFCC's custody from from October 24, 2016, to November 29, 2016, when the court granted him bail but the agency kept hold of him till December 8, 2018.
The agency said it's action hinged on a petition against him from a member of the public.
While delivering the judgement on the suit by the former minister, Baba-Yusuf held that the continued detention after bail granted was illegal.
The judge said the claim by the respondent that the applicant was detained based in a court order was wrong as they failed to obey another court order which gave him bail.
"The detention is illegal and infringes on his personal liberty which is against the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
" I, therefore, declare that the detention of the applicant is unlawful and fragrant violation of his personal liberty.
" I also declare that the applicant is entitled to bail by the respondent and a compensation for the infringement of the applicant's right be accessed at five million naira," the judge declared.
The FCT Court made the pronouncement on Tuesday, after the former minister filed a motion on notice on November 16 before Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf for the enforcement of his fundamental rights which he claimed EFCC violated.
The former minister had been in the EFCC's custody from from October 24, 2016, to November 29, 2016, when the court granted him bail but the agency kept hold of him till December 8, 2018.
The agency said it's action hinged on a petition against him from a member of the public.
While delivering the judgement on the suit by the former minister, Baba-Yusuf held that the continued detention after bail granted was illegal.
The judge said the claim by the respondent that the applicant was detained based in a court order was wrong as they failed to obey another court order which gave him bail.
"The detention is illegal and infringes on his personal liberty which is against the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
" I, therefore, declare that the detention of the applicant is unlawful and fragrant violation of his personal liberty.
" I also declare that the applicant is entitled to bail by the respondent and a compensation for the infringement of the applicant's right be accessed at five million naira," the judge declared.
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