Follow law in arresting Fani-Kayode, Odumakin, Court orders EFCC, DSS, police

Femi Fani-Kayode

The Federal High Court Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) not to arrest Femi Fani-Kayode and Yinka Odumakin without following due process of the law.

Justice John Tsoho, on Tuesday, ruled on a fundamental rights suit filed by Messrs Fani-Kayode and Odumakin.

The duo had joined the Department of State Security (DSS) and police in a suit against the EFCC over an alleged plan to arrest them.

Fani-Kayode had claimed that EFCC operatives surrounded the home of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, while Odumakin shared a video to that effect.

The judge, however, ruled that EFCC’s public declaration to arrest Fani-Kayode and Odumakin on the basis of spreading false rumours was an infringement on their rights and a breach of their fundamental rights as enshrined in Sections 34(a) 35(1) (4) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution.

The court did not grant the duo’s prayer to compel the defendants in the suit to tender an unreserved apology to them for infringing on their rights.

Mr Tsoho also declined the prayer asking the security agencies to pay the sum of N20 million as damages for infringing on their rights.