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Tag: EFCC

  • Magu, Momoh, Dabiri-Erewa, others bag awards in U.S.

    Malam Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been conferred with the Nigerian American Award as the ‘Anti-Corruption Crusader of the Year’

    Magu was conferred with the award in Tampa, Florida, by the Nigerian American Business Forum (NABF) for his efforts in stemming the corrupt business practices and fraudulent financial activities in Nigeria.

    Mr John Momoh, Chairman, Channels Media Group and Channels Television, also bagged the ‘Media Personality of the Year’ for his initiative and innovation at the television outfit.

    Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), was conferred with the ‘Food and Drug Administrator of the Year’ for the transformation she had carried out at NAFDAC within a short period.

    Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, was also conferred with the ‘Most Diaspora Friendly Personality of the Year’.

    Other award recipients were Mr Jim Ovia, Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc., who bagged the ‘Banker Personality of the Year’, while Dr Andrew Nevin, bagged the ‘Financial Guru of the Year’.

    Read Also: Magu, detectives in Ghana to block slush funds

    Chairman of NABF, Dr Afolabi Andu, said the award was instituted to recognise the contributions of Nigerians who are doing their best to change the narratives of the country.

    Andu said the forum was primarily established to bridge the gap between Nigerian American based businesses and their home-based counterparts in the public and private sector.

    Receiving the award, Magu said taming corruption was the only way forward for Nigeria in its quest for economic development, political stability and social justice.

    Represented by Dr Aminu Gusau, Director, Policy, Planning and Statistics at EFCC, Magu appealed to Nigerian diasporas to join hands with the Buhari’s administration’s efforts at fighting corruption.

    Magu warned Nigerians abroad against helping looters to hide their loots.

    “I must make a categorical appeal to Nigerian diasporas that under no circumstance should you aid or abet foreign business partners to undermine our anti-corruption laws and processes.

    “You should not help looters to hide their money abroad or help them in illegitimate fronting arrangements.

    “It is worthy to note that Nigeria has been the leading country in the international fight for assets recovery and has been most triumphant in partial returns of the loots,” Magu said.

    Similarly, the NAFDAC boss, who was also a speaker at the NABF conference, said that 65 per cent of medical products were being imported into Nigeria.

    Adeyeye regretted that majority of sub-standard products were imported into the country, adding that there were compromises too among NAFDAC officials.

    She explained that she inherited N3.2 billion debt at the agency, which she reduced to zero within a year of her stewardship.

    She said the absence of NAFDAC at the Nigerian Ports from 2011 to 2018, was largely responsible for the unchecked importation of tramadol that was now killing many youths in the country.

  • EFCC may probe ex-TETFUND boss’ tenure

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may investigate the activities of the former Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) Executive Secretary Mr. Abdullahi Baffa.

    It has, therefore, summoned the TETFUND Head of Audit to make some clarifications.

    But Bichi, who is yet to hand over to his successor, Prof. Prof. Suleiman Elias Bogoro, said he was ready to face death penalty, if there is any proof of corruption against him.

    He said he was removed because he allegedly failed to collect kickback from about N200 billion disbursed to tertiary institutions.

    The ex-TETFUND boss was removed on Monday for alleged inaccessibility, high-handedness, disagreement with stakeholders, especially some vice chancellors and insubordination to Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu,

    According to a top source, who spoke in confidence, the EFCC was already looking into some issues in TETFUND from 2015, including Baffa’s tenure, to date.

    The source said: “We have already invited the Head of Audit of TETFUND for interaction. We have also collected some documents from the Audit Unit and our detectives have commenced preliminary investigation.

    “The scope of the investigation borders on the disbursement of funds and utilisation to universities and other tertiary institutions,   audit discoveries, alleged diversion of allowances meant for staff over the years and monitoring by TETFUND.

    “We may need to interact with some staff of the agency on the award of some contracts without recourse to Tenders Board.

    “Our detectives also will interact with some vice chancellors of universities, rectors and provosts of other higher institutions on some TETFUND disbursements and projects.”

    A reliable source in TETFUND said: “Yes, our Head of Audit was invited by the EFCC but we have nothing to hide in this agency. Most of the funds we are managing are grants meant for higher institutions and scholars.

    As at press time, Baffa stood his ground that he was not corrupt in office.

    He told BBC Hausa Service that he would not mind death penalty, if found guilty of corrupt practices while in office.

    He said in part: “Allegation of inaccessibility is unfounded as the minister knows that I spend more time in the ministry as his technical aide than in my TETFUND office.

    “I do not regret my refusal to obey the minister’s directives because I cannot sabotage my country.

    “The fact is that since I started this job, I have never demanded a single kobo from any university.

    “If any university shows proof of collecting kickback from them, let death sentence be passed on me.”

  • Fani-Kayode, Usman’s money laundering trial stalled again

    The trial of a former Minister of Aviation Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and his finance (state) counterpart Mrs Nenadi Usman was stalled at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday.

    Mrs. Usman’s lawyers, Chief Ferdinand Orbih and Abiodun Owonikoko, both SANs, were absent.

    The case therefore could not go on despite the presence of Fani-Kayode’s lawyer Mr Norrison Quakers (SAN).

    Little progress has been made in the case since Usman filed an application last June seeking to summon Minister of Information Alhaji Lai Mohammed for publishing her name as an alleged looter.

    She initiated contempt proceedings against Mohammed after he released her name as one of the looters of the treasury.

    Read Also: Court restrains EFCC, Police from arresting Fani-Kayode, Odumakin

    Dismissing the application, Justice Rilwan Aikawa held that the contempt proceedings were a distraction capable of interfering with the trial.

    The judge held that the publication of Usman’s name as an alleged looter was not prejudicial to her case.

    He therefore dismissed the application for lacking in merit.

    The EFCC arraigned Mrs Usman and Fani-Kayode for alleged N4.6billion fraud, to which they pleaded not guilty.

    The former ministers were charged along with former Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) and ex-Chairman of Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State Mr. Yusuf Danjuma and a company, Jointrust Dimensions Nigeria Limited.

    The four were also accused of violating the Money Laundering Act by indirectly retaining N300million, N400million and N800million, all proceeds of corruption, according to EFCC.

    The prosecution said they allegedly committed the offence between January 8 and March 25, 2015 ahead of the general election.

    The case was also stalled last June 5 when reportedly Danjuma slumped while having a bath and was hospitalised.

    Trial was billed to resume that day, but Danjuma, a former Chairman of Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was absent.

    His lawyer K.C Nwofo told the court that he received a call from Danjuma’s wife that the third defendant collapsed in the bathroom.

    Due to the absence of Usman’s lawyers on Thursday, Justice Aikawa adjourned until February 4 and 5 for trial.

  • Court convicts INEC chiefs for receiving bribe from Diezani

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday convicted a former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Administrative Secretary in Kwara State Mr. Christian Nwosu.

    Also found guilty was his co-accused, a former INEC official Mr. Tijani Bashir.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned them for accepting bribe from former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    The commission said the former minister received gratification from oil marketers such as Auctus Integrated Services Ltd, Northern Belt Oil, Gas Ltd and Midwestern Oil and Gas Ltd and Leno Adesanya.

    The money was part of slush funds distributed with a view to influencing the 2015 general elections, which former President Goodluck Jonathan lost.

    EFCC said the defendants conspired to directly take possession of N264, 880, 000, which they reasonably ought to have known forms part of an unlawful act – gratification.

    The convicts were charged with another INEC official Yisa Adedoyin, who pleaded guilty to the offence and was convicted following a plea bargain.

    Nwosu had initially pleaded guilty to receiving N30million bribe from Mrs. Alison-Madueke to rig the 2015 general election results at his arraignment on April 5, 2017; he changed his plea to not guilty when he was re-arraigned.

    EFCC said the convicts made cash payment of N70, 050, 000 to Adedoyin, which exceeds the amount authorised by law without going through a financial institution.

    Bashir was accused of indirectly taking possession of and retaining N164,880,000, which he reasonably ought to have known forms part of gratification and concealing N30million, being part of the proceeds of an unlawful act: “criminal misappropriation”.

    The alleged offences were committed on March 27 and April 7, 2015 and violated provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.

    In his verdict, Justice Mohammed Idris held that the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.

    “I find that the prosecution has proved this case beyond reasonable doubt in a manner required by law.

    “I, therefore, find the first and second defendants guilty as charged,” he held.

    The judge, however, could not pass a sentence on the defendants due to Nwosu’s absence.

    The convict’s lawyer, Obinna Okeke, said Nwosu, based in the Southeast, embarked on a journey to Lagos on Wednesday morning on learning that judgment would be delivered on Thursday.

    The lawyer said Nwosu arrived Lagos late Wednesday.

    “I got a call that he collapsed at the park. He’s on admission in a hospital in Ajangbadi.

    “The doctor had to start administering injections on him. His blood pressure was 200/100. He has been very hypertensive and has not been sleeping,” he said.

    Besides, Okeke said there was a pending appeal on a constitutional issue which the defendants filed at the Court of Appeal.

    “We’re urging your Lordship to grant an adjournment to enable the Court of Appeal dispose of this constitutional issue, by which time the first defendant would have recovered,” he pleaded.

    But, prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo urged the court to disregard the hospital report which he described as “worthless” and contradictory.

    He said the doctor’s report stated that Nwosu was “conscious and alert”.

    Read Also: Diezani ‘bribe’: Case transfer sought

    Refusing the prayer for adjournment, Justice Idris held: “The first defendant is absent without any valid reason in my respectful view.”

    On the pending appeal, Justice Idris held that the issue of law raised and any appeal from the judgment would both be determined by the Court of Appeal.

    He added that he was bound by the Constitution to deliver the judgment within 90 days.

    In his verdict, Justice Idris held that the defendants went to a Fidelity Bank Plc branch to “conduct an unusual transaction” that was outside the scope of their functions.

    Contrary to Nwosu’s claim that the money was for logistics purposes, Justice Idris held that the convict had no account in Fidelity Bank where he went to receive the money, nor did he receive any instructions to disburse the cash.

    The judge said the fact that he collected huge sums of cash without going through a financial institution meant that an offence was committed.

    Justice Idris noted that the defendants did not tender any instructions with respect to the transaction, adding the prosecution witnesses’ evidence were not contradicted.

    “The money did not come from any political party. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not issue any cheque in the name of the defendants to legitimise the transaction, neither did INEC.

    “The defendants admitted that they did not receive cheques from anyone, including the PDP or INEC before going to Fidelity Bank. Why did they have to collect such huge amount of money in cash? INEC is not a customer of Fidelity Bank.

    “There was no instruction directing the bank to disburse the said N264, 880, 000 to the intending beneficiaries. The defendants admitted receiving the money.

    “The evidence on record shows that this money did not come from any political party or any other known legitimate source other than the source revealed by the prosecution.

    “The defendants were not customers of Fidelity Bank and were clearly not issued any financial instruments to carry out the transactions.

    “I agree with the prosecution that the manner in which the transaction leading to this charge was consummated shows clearly that the defendants and Fidelity Bank, acting on behalf of Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, agreed to carry out unlawful act.

    “The defendants though may not know reasonably ought to have known in view of the circumstances that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.”

    After the finding the defendants guilty, Justice Idris adjourned until 12 noon today for sentencing.
    He ordered that Nwosu be produced in court while Bashir should be kept in EFCC’s custody.

  • Breaking: Diezani ‘bribe’: court convicts INEC chiefs

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday convicted a former Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) Administrative Secretary in Kwara State Mr Christian Nwosu.

    Justice Mohammed Idris found him guilty of laundering N264million.

    “I find that the prosecution has proved the case beyond reasonable doubt in the manner required by law.

    “I, therefore, find the first and second defendants guilty as charged,” the judge said.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) re-arraigned Nwosu allegedly accepting gratification from former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke (“still at large”).

    He was re-arraigned along with Tijani Bashir before Justice Idris.

    Read Also: Diezani ‘bribe’: Case transfer sought

    They were charged with another INEC official Yisa Adedoyin, who pleaded guilty to the offence and was convicted following a plea bargain.

    Nwosu had initially pleaded guilty to receiving N30million bribe from Mrs Alison-Madueke to rig the 2015 general election results, but he changed his plea to not guilty.

    Justice Idris has adjourned sentencing until Friday by 12noon to enable Nwosu to be present.

  • My role in movement of $5m to Fayose, by Obanikoro

    A former Minister of State for Defence Senator Musiliu Obanikoro on Monday told the Federal High Court in Lagos the role he played in transferring $5million to former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose.

    He testified in Fayose’s trial before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Fayose and Abiodun Agbele, who is facing a different charge, with taking possession of N1, 219, 000, 000 on June 17, 2014 to fund the former governor’s 2014 gubernatorial campaign.

    The commission said Fayose “reasonably ought to have known” that the money “formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust/stealing.”

    EFCC said Fayose, on the same day, received cash payment of $5million from Obanikoro without going through a financial institution, the sum having exceeded the amount authorised by law.

    The alleged offence, EFCC said, contravenes Sections 1, 15 (2) (d and 16 (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 and punishable under Section 15 (3) and (4)..

    Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Obanikoro, the fifth prosecution witness, said the money was paid to Fayose’s account from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in June 2014.

    According to the former minister, in June 2014 ahead of the Ekiti State governorship election, he received a call from Fayose asking if there was any “message” from the then National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

    Obanikoro said the NSA eventually confirmed to him that he had a “message” for the accused.

    The witness said Dasuki told him the money would be received in an account opened to manage Boko Haram insurgency under his watch as Minister of State for Defence.

    “The NSA told me that Fayose will call me as to how he will receive the money.

    “A total equivalent of $5million from the NSA imprest account was given to Fayose by the order of NSA,” Obanikoro said.

    The witness said Fayose introduced Biodun Agbele to him, explaining he would be the one to receive the money for him, which was done at the Akure Airport “because it was physical cash.”

    “I had earlier wanted to transfer the dollars so that the naira equivalent can be withdrawn in Ado Ekiti, which was the reason why I initially called Diamond Bank Managing Director but he replied that the bank did not have such capacity in Ado Ekiti for that huge amount of money,” Obanikoro said.

    The former minister said his late aide was in the meeting where Fayose acknowledged receipt of total naira equivalent of $5million at Spotless Hotel owned by Fayose.

    Jacobs then showed the witness Exhibit E to confirm if it was the account to which the funds were transferred and the witness replied: “Yes”.

    Obanikoro told the court that on June 13, 2014, and June 16, 2014, funds were posted into the account, adding that the funds were from the NSA’s imprest account.

    He said that he asked Fayose how he wanted the money sent and the former governor told him that some it should be paid in naira and others in dollars.

    According to the witness, the money was eventually brought in a bullion van to the private wing of the Ikeja Airport where Agbele, sent by Fayose, was on standby.

    He testified that after confirmation from the accused, the money was taken to Ado-Ekiti, following which he went to meet Fayose.

    Obanikoro said the transactions occurred “about three days to the election”.

    On the source of the money, the witness said: “The NSA is the only person that can ascertain the source of the money; it is from the imprest account of the NSA.”

    Obanikoro said that the account from which the money was transferred from was used for security purposes.

    Four witnesses had earlier testified last November 19. A banker Danmola Otuyena told the court that about three aircraft were used to fly N1.2billion from Lagos to Ekiti State for delivery to Fayose.

    Otuyena, who headed his bank’s Cash in Transit Services Unit when the transaction occurred, said he accompanied the bullion van that took the cash to airport.

    Zonal Heads, Southwest 1 and 2 of a new generation bank Lawrance Akande and Abiodun Oshodi, and the Head of Financial Operations of another new generation bank Olaitan Fajuyitan also testified.

    Akande testified that he was informed that money would be brought from the Akure airport to be paid into the accounts of Spotless Nigeria Limited (Fayose’s company and co-accused) and De Privateer Limited.

    Read Also: Fatima Obanikoro: Never give up on your dreams

    He said Fayose’s associate Abiodun Agbele called him in June 2014 saying he had a lodgment of N1.2billion to make.

    He said he also got a call from Fayose to that effect.

    Akande said he asked Oshodi to follow the transaction, adding that they had solicited for deposits from Fayose.

    “I had no reason to regard the funds as proceeds of crime. I didn’t observe any anomalies in the operation of the accounts,” he said under cross examination.

    Oshodi testified that he organised a bullion van that took the money from Akure airport to the bank for lodgment.

    “Biodun Agbele came with a security escort, including police and soldiers, and we went to the Akure airport with the branch manager and the bullion van.

    “We moved the bullion van close to the plane and then evacuated the cash. The former minister was there also.

    “Agbele supplied the accounts where the money would be lodged – De Privateer, Spotless and the personal account of Fayose,” he said.

    Justice Olatoregun adjourned until February 4, 5 and 6 for Obanikoro’s cross-examination.

  • Alleged bribery: Court approves Rickey Tarfa’s medical trip

    An Igbosere High Court in Lagos on Monday ratified the foreign medical trip of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Rickey Tarfa, accused of perversion of the course of justice.

    Tarfa is standing trial on a 26-count charge bordering on offering monetary gratification to two judges of the

    Federal High Court – Justices Hyeladzira Nganjiwa and Mohammed Yunusa.

    He was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Adedayo Akintoye on March 9, 2016.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    At the resumption of trial on Monday, Tarfa was absent.

    His counsel, Mr Abiodun Owonikoko told Justice Akintoye that his client had traveled abroad for medical treatment.

    Read Also: Alleged bribery: Court summons Rickey Tarfa’s witnesses

    He said Tarfa’s condition “was so bad that he had to travel for surgical operations.”

    Tarfa will be away for three months, Owonikoko added.

    EFCC counsel Mr Rotimi Oyedepo confirmed to the court that he received a medical report and a letter from the defendant requesting for vacation of Monday’s trial date.

    Oyedepo, however, wondered why the defendant didn’t seek leave of court before embarking on the trip.

    Justice Akintoye advised the defence to ensure that the Tarfa is in court on the next adjourned date.

    She said: “I am giving the defendant the benefit of doubt based on the application before the court, he should be in court on the next adjourned date.”

    The court adjourned till March 11 for continuation of trial.

    In the charge before the court, the EFCC alleged that between June 27, 2012 and January 8, 2016, Tarfa paid N5.3 million in several tranches into Justice Nganjiwa’s account.

    He was also accused of paying N800,000 into Justice Yunusa’s account in three tranches between February 9 and November 30, 2015.

    The SAN was also accused of age falsification.

    Upon his arraignment on March 9, 2016 and subsequent re-arraignment on November 16, 2016, Tarfa pleaded not guilty and was granted bail on self-recognizance.

    The EFCC has since closed its case, during which it noted that Tarfa entered his defence after the court dismissed his no-case submission he filed.

    Tarfa’s first witness, Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR) of the Federal High Court in Lagos, Mr Bello Okandeji, is yet to finish his cross-examination.

  • Breaking: Court restrains EFCC, Police from arresting Fani-Kayode, Odumakin

    An Abuja Federal High Court, has restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police from arresting or detaining Femi Fani-Kayode and Yinka Odumakin.

    Justice John Tsoho, gave the order on Monday, following an ex parte application argued by Mr Chukwuma Machukwu-Ume (SAN) on behalf of the duo.

    Machukwu-Ume told the court that the three security agencies were planning to arrest and detain his clients over comments they made with regard to the travails of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    “The spokesman of the EFCC, Mr Tony Orilede, was alleged to have made the threat to arrest them publicly at a conference where he represented the EFCC chairman.

    Read Also: Court restates order stopping CCT from forcing CJN to vacate office

    “He said they are doing everything possible to arrest these two gentlemen just for speaking their minds.

    “The EFCC is established to pursue corruption and not comments made by Nigerians, expressing themselves,” he said.

    The lawyer told the court that his clients had gone into hiding for fear of being arrested for merely expressing their freedom of speech, alleging that their family lives had also been affected by the alleged threat.

    Machukwu-Ume told the court that the application was brought pursuant to Section 6 (6)(b) and Section 46 of the 1999 Constitution as well as Order 4 Rules 3 of the Fundamental Rights Procedure Rules.

    He urged the court to grant the order restraining the respondents from arresting and detaining his clients pending the determination of the application on notice.

    Justice Tsoho said that he was satisfied that the applicants had made a case that their lives were being threatened.

    “I am satisfied that the applicants have made out a case for the court’s intervention.
    “Accordingly, the respondents are restrained from either arresting or detaining the applicants on grounds of the applicants’ public statements pending the determination of the application on notice,” the judge ruled.

    The Judge adjourned the matter until Feb. 4.

  • EFCC arrests six suspected internet fraudsters

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested six suspected internet fraudsters in separate raids carried out in Abuja.

    Acting Head Media and Publicity of the Commission, Mr Tony Orilade listed the suspects as Chemezie Ezeife, Onwochei John, Onwochei Joel, Marvin Nwankwo, Prince Ojenike, and Jude Olatekobowale.

    He said they were arrested following a tip-off. In a statement in Abuja, on Friday, Orilade said that Ezeife was arrested on Jan.16, at the Life Camp residential area in Abuja following intelligence reports of shady activities traced to him.

    Among items recovered from him were a Mercedes Benz C300, Toyota Camry and Lexus Jeep, Seagate Hard Drive, Four Laptop Computers, an ECOWAS International Passport, various Wrist Watches, Two iPhones and Blackberry phones, and a Samsung phone.

    Read also: We have insulated recovered funds, assets from looters – Buhari

    “Several suspicious emails are also traced to his account.

    “Investigation into the activities of another syndicate traced to the Nova Estate in Apo, led to the arrest of Joel and John Onwechei, both brothers.

    “John the younger of the brothers confessed that he got involved in internet fraud as a student of the Delta State University.

    “He successfully defrauded one Miss Lynese from Zambia, using Facebook in the guise that he is one Carlos Gomes, a British citizen.

    “Among items found in his possession are an iPhone 6 and iPhone 7, and he confessed to having a landed property in Benin, Edo State, all of which he acquired for N1 million he made from Internet fraud.

    “Two laptop computers, a white Range Rover Sport, white Mercedes Benz E350, and a grey Toyota Camry.

    “His brother Joel confessed that he got into yahoo-yahoo through his brother, and asked him to teach him how to go about love scam.

    “Thereafter, he tried to create an email account, but he was unsuccessful, ” the EFCC spokesman said. (NAN)

  • Fani-Kayode, Odumakin sue EFCC for N20m over planned arrest

    A FORMER Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, and Afenifere Renewal Group Publicity Secretary Yinka Odumakin have sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged plan to arrest them.

    They joined the Department of State Services and the Police in the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

    The applicants, through their lawyer Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume (SAN), are praying the court to stop the respondents from arresting them over alleged false information they spread.

    They are demanding N20 million “as damages for the unlawful threat to arrest the applicants”.

    Fani-Kayode had claimed that EFCC operatives surrounded Chief Justice Onnoghen’s home. Odumakin shared a video to that effect. Fani-Kayode later retracted the publication, saying his sources misinformed him.

    The applicants are praying for a declaration that the respondents’ public declaration to arrest them on the basis of spreading false rumours is an infringement of their fundamental rights as enshrined in Section 34 (a), 35 (1) (4) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution.

    They said the threat to falsely imprison their liberty, safety, peace and security is a breach of their rights.

    Fani-Kayode and Odumakin prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from harassing, arresting or detaining them.

    They are praying for the enforcement of their fundamental rights and an order stopping the respondents from threatening them with unlawful arrest.

    The applicants prayed for an order compelling the respondents to tender an unreserved apology to them for the infringement of their fundamental rights and for “describing them in demeaning manners”.

    In a verifying affidavit in support of the application, the deponent Rev. Emmanuel Olorunmagbe, said he was at the Online Publishers Association of Nigeria (OPAN) conference on Wednesday when EFCC’s spokesman Tony Oriade threatened to arrest the applicants.

    “He stated openly that while the first applicant tweeted that the EFCC wanted to arrest the CJN, the second applicant released a video on it, and that two of them will be invited and if they fail to turn up within 48 hours, they will be arrested,” the deponent said.

    The applicants said they and their families are living in fear  “as to what might happen if these respondents are not restrained by the court, coupled with their state of health.”