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Tag: Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

  • FEC approves N4.03 billion for FCT infrastructure

    The Federal Executive Council on Monday approved a total of N4.03 billion for various infrastructural developments in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The Minister of FCT, Mohammed Bello briefed State House correspondents at the end of FEC meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He was with the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, and Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed.

    Bello said that FEC approved all the nine memoranda from the ministry which are expected to improve infrastructure in the city.

    The first memo, he said, is for the award of contract for the rehabilitation of failed walkways within the Wuse District of the Federal Capital City at the cost of N1.9 billion with a completion period of twelve months.

    According to him: “The second contract was for the preparation of the electricity master plan for Phase IV of the Federal Capital City at the cost of N189 million with a completion of ten months. As you already know, phases I and II have their own master plan.

    “The third contract is the design of infrastructure for what we called institution and research district which is in phase III of the Federal Capital City at the cost of N197 million.

    “The fourth is engineering design of infrastructure for sector G and H in Phase III of the Federal Capital City awarded at the cost of N118.575 million with a completion period of six months.

    “The fifth is for the design of inter-skeptic sewage line for the federal capital city in the total sum of N125 million.

    “The next one is the contract for the construction of the School of Science at the permanent site of the FCT College of Education Zuba at the cost of N701 million with a completion period of 42 weeks.

    “The other contract is the final engineering design of infrastructure and production of tender documents for Dawaki District in the sum of N259 million with a six moth completion period.”

    Read Also: FEC to hold final session on Monday

    The Minister went on: “Also a contract for engineering and infrastructure design for a 41km Nyanya-Guruku-Mpape which will burst out at the Outer Northern Express Way which is called Murtala Mohammed Expressway at the cost of N174 million with completion period of six months.

    “That is the expressway from the city that goes right through to Zuba. Ultimately that road is going to give another access entry point into the city and also will open up that section of the city for development.

    “The next one is for the supply and installation of a city scanner machine for the Maitama District Hospital with a delivery period of eight weeks at the cost of N190 million. While the other contract is for engineering infrastructure for Kabusa District at the total cost of N179 million.”

    Udoma Udo Udoma said that FEC was impressed with the 2.01% first quarter GDP figure released by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday.

    Noting that FEC was encouraged by non-oil sector contribution to the economic, he said that the newly released first quarter figure is the best since 2015.

    He said: “The GDP numbers indicate continuing economic growth. In the first quarter of 2019, the economic recorded a real GDP growth of 2.01%.

    “This growth reflects the strongest first quarter performance in GDP since 2015. The first quarter is always the weakest in terms of growth.

    “The federal executive council is most encouraged by the fact that growth continues to be driven by the non-oil sector which affects most of our population.

    “Also agriculture grew by 3.17% and this represents the strongest growth in agriculture since the fourth quarter in 2017.

    “The council is also pleased to note that there are improvements in other economic indicators such as the inflation rate, which tend to have high inflation during an election period but it has been stable. Our external reserves and our trade balance have also remained healthy over the period which our exchange rate to the dollar has also been stable.”

  • Police explain closure of road in Abuja

    The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) says closure of the road leading to Court of Appeal, venue of Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja, is to secure the area.

    The police, in the early hours of Wednesday, closed the access road leading to the tribunal, causing traffic gridlock around the city centre.

    The command`s Spokesman, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, in a statement, said that the closure was for Wednesday only and was to prevent breakdown of law and order.

    Read Also: Police parade suspected criminals

    “The command wants to reiterate that its action was purely to avoid any clash that might arise between supporters of political parties involved in the case.

    “The command seizes this medium to appreciate residents for their usual cooperation and reassure them that their safety is its utmost priority,’’ he said.

    Manzah said that the command regretted the inconveniences the closure might have caused residents of the territory.

    NAN

  • FCT residents decry high rate of “One Chance” criminals

    Residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have decried the increasing rate of ‘one chance’ criminal activities in the city centres.

    Some of the victims, who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, said that those who enter commercial vehicles along the Kubwa express, Life Camp junction and Berger are more prone to such activities.

    One chance is a type of robbery in which the victim is robbed while on board a moving commercial vehicle; mostly unpainted taxis.

    Precious Neji, one of the victims, told NAN that she was robbed on Feb.16 the day election was cancelled around Katampe Hillside in Dawaki.

    She said that she boarded a taxi on her way to church with three men and a lady at Katampe and the driver started asking them for their Permanent Voter Cards and suddenly went into a bush path.

    “They started punching my eyes and face, they also collected my bag, phone, ATM card, I gave them the real password of my phone and the pin of my ATM.

    “They took the N11,000 in my bag after which they dropped me in a bush,” she said.

    Similarly, another female victim, Aminat Ahmed, said she and her friend were robbed in a taxi along Dutse market on March 18 at about 3:30 p.m. at News Engineering bus stop in Dawaki.

    “After few minutes in the vehicle, the driver wind up the glasses which happen to be tinted and the guy in front ordered us to bend down.

    “He requested for our bags and took all our valuable which include three phones, cash close to N15,000 and my friend’s ATM.

    “They instantly tried to transfer the money using a POS machine in the vehicle but it was not successful so they later withdrew the money at Jaiz Bank ATM close to Wuse market.

    “After turning around the express like four times, they dropped us behind News Engineering with our bags and zoomed off,” she explained.

    Read Also: FCT to developers: stop arbitrary change of land use

    Speaking on the matter, ASP Danjuma Taminu, Deputy Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), assured FCT residents that the police is doing everything possible to curb one chance within the territory.

    He said that some officers had been positioned at strategic places such as the parks, under the bridges, lonely roads, highways and other suspicious places in order to curb the trend.

    Tanimu disclosed that an Anti One Chance Squad was established in 2018 when one chance criminal activities was rampant in the FCT.

    “It was established in 2018 by Commissioner of Police (CP) Bala Ciroma, the office was at Asokoro Police Station under Asokoro Police Division.

    “Currently, with less cases of one chance within the FCT, the CP saw the need to narrow it down to CID division of the police.

    “Most officers of the squad have been sent to other States to help reduce one chance as they have done in FCT,” he said.

    Tanimu, however, called on transport organizations and those working in parks to partner with the police in curbing the few cases of one chance criminal activities.

    “Our Rapid Rescue Squad are out there together with the Anti-one chance squad, carrying out stop and search and respond to reports of suspected people around.

    “In order to avoid being victims of one chance, one has the right to check the boot and if there is anything suspicious inside the car, one is supposed to alert the police and not to enter.

    “The police is currently working on knowing their hideout so we can apprehend them.”

    NAN

     

  • Court orders DSS to produce Dasuki

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama has ordered the issuance of a production warrant on the Department of State Services (DSS) to compel it to produce detained former National Security Adviser (NSA), Mohammed Dasuki on the next date.

    Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf gave the order in a ruling on Tuesday at the resumed hearing in the trial of Dasuki and some others.

    Justice Baba-Yusuf said: “The information before the court is that the 1st defendant is in the custody of the DSS and the prosecution is to liaise with the DSS to produce the 1st defendant in court and in any day the cases comes up.

    “But it appears that the prosecution has failed to do and did not provide any explanation for failing to do so.

    “Hence, I will issue a production warrant and adjourn the case till a further date to ensure the presence of the first defendant in court,” the judge said and scheduled May 24 as the next hearing date.

    Dasuki is being tried with Aminu Baba-Kusa and his (Baba-Kusa’s) two firms – Acacia Holdings Ltd and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited – on a 32-count charge, in which they are accused of diverting N32bn meant for procurement of firearms and ammunition to combat insurgents.

    Read Also: Dasuki stalls trial in absentia

    At the commencement of proceedings on Tuesday,the judge observed that Dasuki, listed as the first defendant, was absent.

    Lawyers to the defendants  – Victor Okwudiri (for Dasuki), Solomon Umoh (SAN), R.A Rilwan and A.O Ayodele – blamed Dasuki’s absence on the prosecution.

    They expressed surprise that the prosecution lawyer, representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Oluwaleke Atolagbe could not explain the absence of the first defendant, who they noted, was in the custody of the state.

    In his response, Atolagbe, a private lawyer, engaged by the EFCC, argued that his client was without for Dasuki’s absence.

    He said, “All the defendants are saying that the 1st defendant (Dasuki) is in the custody of the state, but this honourable court has held that he is in the custody of the DSS and not the EFCC that is prosecuting this case, a position both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court have upheld.

    “The EFCC cannot produce the 1st defendant because he is not in their custody.

    “I would urge my lord to issue a production warrant for the the production of the 1st defendant as issued in the sister case,” Atolagbe said.

    He urged the court to hold that, should the DSS be unable to produce Dasuki on the next date, the court should  invoke the provisions of Section 352(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) to proceed with the trial in the first defendant’s absence.

    Atolagbe told court that another court has taken such step in another case in which the DSS was already prosecuting Dasuki.

    In that case, the DSS, through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, is prosecuting Dasuki on money laundering and illegal possession of firearms charges before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

  • One dead, four injured as Abuja indigenes, soldiers clash

    One person has been confirmed dead and four others injured in a fresh clash between some indigenes of Abuja and soldiers over land at Tungan-Maje, an outskirt town in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Malam Tanko Sani, one of the community leaders who confirmed the incident in an interview with journalists on Wednesday at the scene, said trouble ensued when soldiers forcefully moved into the land and started work without the consent of the indigenes.

    He said one of the indigenes, a student, Hamza Usman, was killed at the spot by the soldiers for protesting against the action.

    The community head said four other persons were injured and are receiving treatment in a hospital within the area.

    Read Also: MTN unveils FibreNet in Abuja

    He regretted the soldiers had never engaged the community members for a discussion since the disagreement between them started about three years ago.

    Female and male indigenes of the town blocked the ever busy Zuba – Gwagwalada road to press home their demand.

    The situation became worst as motorists plying the route were held in gridlock for over five hours before the intervention of some stakeholders.

    Reacting to the sad development in his palace, the Agora of Zuba, HRH Mohammed Bello, demanded that the indigenes should be compensated, urging them to be calm.

    Attempts to speak with the military personnel on ground failed as at the time of filling this report.

    There was also no official statement from officials of the FCTA.

    All efforts to speak with the FCT police command on the incident were futile as at when filling this report.

  • Court orders service of processes on Magu over detention of lawyer, ex-Senator

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Apo, Abuja has ordered substituted service of processes be effected on the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu over a contempt proceedings initiated by a lawyer, Monday Ubani and former Christopher Enai.

    Ubani, a former national officer of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and Enai, an ex-senator from Bayelsa State were said to have been detained by the EFCC since March19 this year when they honoured the commission’s invitation.

    Ubani and Enai are  ‘standing surety’ for Mrs. Ngozi Olejeme, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), who the commission is investigating for alleged corruption.

    On March 26, upon listening to Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who argued a motion ex-parte, seeking the release of Ubani and Enai, Justice Sylvanus Oriji Oriji ordered the EFCC to either charge Ubani and Enai to court or release them on bail on or before March 28.

    After March 28, and on realising that the EFCC failed to obey the court’s order, Ozekhome returned to court to seek the issuance of Form 48 (notice of consequences of disobedience of court’s order) and Form 49, seeking the committal of the EFCC Chairman to prison for allegedly disobeying an order of court.

    Read Also: Why we didn’t confirm Magu, by Saraki

    Ozekhome on Tuesday told the court of the difficulty encountered in serving the court processes.

    He said the court’s bailiff, Ishaya Markus, was denied access to Magu by the armed security personnel at his office at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja. He said the operatives told the bailiff that he could only see Magu on invitation.

    Ozekhome then urged the court to order that the Forms 48 and 49 be either served on any officer at the mail registry of the Chairman of the EFCC, Legal Department at EFCC headquarters or by pasting same at the gate of the EFCC headquarters.

    In a ruling yesterday, Justice Oriji  held that the court has the power to make an order for substituted service of court processes where it appears that prompt service cannot be conveniently effected.

    The judge, in granting Ozekhome’s prayer for the service of the Forms 48 and 49 on Magu through substituted means, said “In exercise of the power of the court under Order 7 Rule 11, I grant this motion.”.

  • Nigerians return to polls to elect 29 governors, 991 state legislators

    Nigerians today return to the polls to elect their state governors and legislators as well councilors for the six Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils.

    The electorate will vote for 1,082 candidates for the various positions, two weeks after the Feb. 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The positions include Governors in 29 States and 991 members of state Houses of Assembly as well as the six Chairmen and 62 Councilors for the Area Councils in the FCT.

    The governorship election is taking place in 29 states as the elections in remaining seven other states of Edo, Kogi, Ondo, Ekiti, Anambra, Osun and Bayelsa were staggered and already conducted off season by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    For the governorship election, no fewer than 1,063 candidates are contesting for the available 29 governorship seats.

    FINAL-LIST-OF-GOVERNORSHIP-CANDIDATES-1-1

    These include 64 governorship candidates in Rivers, 44 in Plateau, Kaduna 38, Adamawa 29, Jigawa 18, Delta 50, Cross Rivers 26, Kebbi 31 and Ogun 41 candidates.

    For instance, in Lagos State 45 governorship candidates are vying for the governorship seat, while 640 candidates of various parties are eying the 40 seats in the state House of Assembly in the election, also in Sokoto State 51 political parties are contesting for governorship and 462 state House of Assembly candidates are participating in the state election.

    The electorate in Adamawa will be voting for 313 candidates for governorship and state House of Assembly from the 29 political parties participating in the exercise.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa, Mr Kashim Gaidam, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that 29 candidates would be contesting for governorship, while 284 candidates from various political parties are vying for the 25 state House of Assembly seats.

    Among the 29 contestants for governorship seat are four women; Lami Musa of People’s Party of Nigeria (PPN), Na’ama Bulama of Progressive People Alliance (PPA), Rukayya Audu of Action People’s Party (APP) and Elizabeth Isa of Change Advocacy Party (CAP).

    Also 25 women are among the 284 candidates for the legislative poll.

    In Katsina State 334 candidates, comprising 18 for governorship and 316 candidates contesting for the 34 state House of Assembly seats, while in Abia 32 candidates are contesting the governorship and 353 candidates vying for the state 24-member legislature.

    In Yobe, 163 candidates from different political parties made up of 13 participating in governorship while the rest 157 would feature in the state House of Assembly poll.

    Also in Anambra, 23 political parties are contesting for the governorship seat and 518 candidates battling for the 30 assembly positions in the state.

    In Kano State, 52 candidates are gunning for governorship and 769 candidates for the state assembly election; and in Enugu State 42 candidates are in the governorship race, while 310 candidates would be vying for the 24 legislature.

    Also in Niger State, 31 candidates are battling for the governorship poll and 395 for the state House of Assembly election, while in Imo 67 candidates are jostling for the governorship slot and 981 are slugging for the 27 seats in the state House of Assembly.

    Also in Ogun, 41 candidates are contesting for the seat of governor while, 582 candidates are jostling for the 26 state constituencies.

    For the FCT Area Council election, a total of 105 candidates are contesting for the six chairmanship positions while 701 candidates seek to occupy the 62 councillorship seats.

    Similarly, 40 females are in the race for the chairmanship positions, while 88 females are seeking to be elected as councilors.

    FINAL-LIST-OF-STATE-HOUSE-OF-ASSEMBLY-CANDIDATES-1 (1)

    In addition to the state elections into 1,082 constituencies nationwide, INEC is also conducting supplementary elections in 14 States covering seven Senatorial Districts and 24 Federal Constituencies, alongside the Governorship and State Assembly elections.

    NAN recalls that the elections in the affected areas were disrupted mainly by acts of violence including ballot box snatching, abduction of INEC officials, over voting and failure to adhere to regulations and guidelines in the national elections conducted on Feb. 23.

    While cancelling the affected polls, the electoral ombudsman noted that number of registered voters in some polling units involved in each constituency was more than the votes received by some candidates with the highest number of votes, hence the need for supplementary elections to determine the actual winners.

    The election will hold at 119,973 polling units across the country, while collation of results will take place in 8,809 Registration Areas or Wards, 774 Local Government Areas, 36 States and the FCT.

    The polling units are expected to open by 8 a.m. and close by 2 p.m. with the last person on the line allowed to vote.

    INEC maintains that the use of Smart Card Readers and Permanent Voter Cards were compulsory for the elections.

    The commission says the total number of registered voters in the country is 84,004,084, with 44,405,439 (52.86 per cent) as male and 39,598,645 (47.14 per cent) as female.

    It also said that 72,775,502 or 86.63 per cent of registered voters have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has expressed confidence that all polling units would open at 8 a.m. nationwide.

    Yakubu said that the commission had effectively tackled the challenge of logistics as materials for the election have been earlier delivered to all States and the FCT.

    Meanwhile, INEC has postponed the House of Assembly Election for the Nasarawa/Binyeri State Constituency of Mayo Belwa Local Government Area in Adamawa following the death of a member of the assembly, Mr Adamu Kwanate, who was candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election.

    Until his death on Wednesday, Kwanate was the member representing the affected state constituency. (NAN)

  • Commonwealth observers impressed with polls

    The Commonwealth Observer Group on Monday said a major gain of the Presidential and National Assembly elections were the fact that Nigerians had the opportunity to express their will and exercise their franchise.

    They also claimed that in spite of the fact that the elections were “highly-contested”, the fundamental freedoms of expression, assembly, association and movement were respected.

    The observers said the elections showed that “people of Nigeria have demonstrated patience and commitment to their democracy.”

    They commended the Nigeria Police and security agencies for securing the polling units nationwide.

    But it asked the Federal Government to hold those who perpetrated violence during the elections accountable.

    They however pleaded with all political parties to honour the National Peace Accord and avoid violence.

    The group made its verdict known in an interim statement by its Chairperson, Dr. Jakaya Kikwete, who was a former President of the United Republic of Tanzania.

    Kikwete said: “No report of underage voters from observers. The disabled voted and given preference. Voting was transparent and open at polling unit level.

    “But at the collation stage, we did not participate yet. So, it’s the totality of all levels that will determine the overall status. We reserve that until the process is ended.”

    Although the Commonwealth observers acknowledged that there were organisational, logistical and technical difficulties in these elections, they said the challenges should be part of the nation’s electoral reform.

    The interim statement said:  “This was a highly contested election. There was a significant increase in the number of political parties and presidential candidates although in practice the campaign was dominated by the two major parties.

    Read Also: Buhari assures Commonwealth scribe on credible polls

    “Whilst the environment was tense and divisive, overall, fundamental freedoms of association, expression, assembly and movement were generally respected.

    “Notwithstanding the difficulties and challenges surrounding these elections, for the most part Nigerians had the opportunity to express their will and exercise their franchise.

    “We trust that the final stages of collation and announcement of results will be handled in a transparent and credible manner.

    “The people of Nigeria have demonstrated patience and commitment to their democracy. We appeal to them to maintain the same commitment in the post-election period and as Nigeria prepares to return to the polls on 9 March 2019 for the Governorship, State Assembly and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections.”

    On violence during the elections, the observers urged the Federal Government to hold the perpetrators accountable.

    They advised political parties against taking the laws into their hands in any form.

    They however praised Nigerian police and security agencies for securing polling units.

    The statement added: “Election related violence and loss of life, which occurred in a number of places, is deeply troubling. Nigeria can do better.

    “Violence has no place in a modern democracy. Those responsible should be held accountable.

    “We acknowledge the important role played by police, together with other security agencies, in securing polling units.”

    The observers pleaded with political parties to shun post voting violence under whatever guise.

    “The political environment is highly charged and there are security concerns in some parts of the country. Several cases of election related violence have been reported.

    “We welcome the signing of the National Peace Accord by political parties shortly before the elections, which was witnessed by the Commonwealth Secretary-General.

    “We encourage all political parties to honour their commitments in the National Peace Accord and reject violence,” the statement said.

    Regarding the conduct of the elections, the observers identified six challenges which Nigeria should address in its electoral reform.

    The statement said: “Electoral reform is a continuous process building on what has worked successfully and addressing weaknesses.

    “However, there have been considerable organizational, logistical and technical difficulties in these elections, which we know INEC and all stakeholders will wish to address.”

    The six challenges are as follows:

    • Notwithstanding further assurances provided by INEC, there were delays in the distribution of materials, resulting in late opening of polling units. Although INEC subsequently authorized extended voting hours for those polling units that had opened late, this information was not communicated effectively and not followed by all polling staff.

     

    • We noted that polling officials, security staff and other essential workers were unable to vote and were therefore disenfranchised. In addition, we were told that 11.2 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were not collected; consequently, over 13 percent of all registered voters could not vote.

     

    • We observed problems with the Smart Card Readers (SCRs) in a number of polling units. This caused further delays as polling officials awaited technical assistance or replacements.

     

    • The Group was impressed by the hard work and dedication of polling staff. Observers noted however, that many would have benefitted from more comprehensive training in polling procedures. For example, in some places, the layout of polling units, including the positioning of voting booths, potentially compromised the secrecy of the ballot. Incorrect labeling and failure to seal the ballot boxes correctly were also noted. Lack of signage within polling units caused some confusion.

     

    • We witnessed crowding within a number of polling units with large numbers of party agents, many of whom were not wearing INEC accreditation badges. Some party agents attempted to intimidate polling staff and voters, including during counting.

     

    • During sorting and counting, the determination of invalid votes was often vigorously contested by party agents and members of the public, partly due to a lack of understanding as to what constituted an invalid vote.

  • AEPB urges residents to curb waste littering

    Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has urged residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to get waste bins and sizeable polythene bags to support the efforts at curtailing littering of wastes on streets.

    The AEPB Head of Information and Outreach Unit, Mallam Muktar Ibrahim, gave the advice in an interview. He urged residents to replace their damaged bins with new ones, adding that residents who had no bins should buy sizeable polythene bags to curtail littering waste on the street.

    He recalled that AEPB had on February 13  held Waste Bin Enforcement Stakeholders’ meeting to sensitise residents on the need to replace the damaged bins.

    According to him, this has become personal responsibility of residents.

    Initially, it used to be government responsibility because in the past, bins were freely distributed to residents, especially when AEPB started its operations in Abuja.

    Furthermore, he stressed that some residents are still expecting this to be the case, but unfortunately “it has reached a situation where government can no longer buy as many bins based on the number of people in Abuja”.  He argued that it is an individual responsibility for residents to get functional waste bins and ensure replacement of those bins when the old ones are damaged.

    He said AEPB would have contracted a relevant company to supply the waste bins for residents, but the board was facing the challenge of not paying waste service charges enjoyed by residents.

    He said: “In our talks, we have actually played with the idea of supplying and deducting from the waste bins but then it becomes a difficult thing because people are not even prepared to pay waste service charges. This one is not like a levy; it is payment for waste service already enjoyed. So, we are having a problem with that. We also advise that they can buy sizeable polythene bags and use it to pack waste in interim.’’

    According to him, AEPB has also located roll-on bins in some strategic places in Abuja to curtail the incidence of littering waste on the street.

  • Court asks EFCC to release ex-Skye Bank Chair

    Reverses arrest order issued to commission

     

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release detained former Chairman of Skye Bank Plc, Tunde Ayeni.

    Justice Yusuf Halilu, in a ruling, set aside an earlier order of the court allowing the EFCC to detain Ayeni for 14 days for the purpose of investigation.

    Justice Halilu upheld the argument by lawyer to Ayeni, Ahmed Raji (SAN) to the effect that the EFCC suppressed facts which misled the court into granting the earlier the application, thereby, making the detention illegal.

    The judge ordered the EFCC to immediately released Ayeni, who is said to have been arrested since February 6 this year.

    Justice Halilu held that, with the submissions of lawyers to both sides, it was clear that the respondent suppressed fact when it came to ask for a remand order.

    The judge noted that the respondent did not attach the fresh petition it claimed was written against the applicant, but rather attached a petition sent from the office of the Vice President .

    Justice Halilu equally noted that the respondent did not inform the court that the Commission had granted the applicant an administrative bail and also that the applicant also standing trial before the Federal High Court and since been admitted to bail.

    The judge noted that the court was not aware of all the fact presented by the applicant and which the respondent could not deny.

    He added: “”Having considered all the facts before the court, it is clear that the respondent suppressed facts to mislead the court. If indeed there is a fresh petition against the applicant, and a pending matter is before the Federal High Court, the respondent need not a remand order, but to apply to amend the charge in which it is prosecuting the applicant.

    “By coming for a remand order, the respondent had come to tamper with the sacred right of the applicant, which he enjoys. I wonder why the respondent do not attach the fresh petition it claimed it received. What I have before me is a petition written by the Office of  the Vice President”.

    Read Also: Court orders EFCC, banks to pay Benue N100m

    “On this note, I hereby set aside the earlier remand order and order the immediate release of the applicant”.

    The ruling by Justice Halilu was on a fundamental rights enforcement application filed and argued for Ayeni, by Raji.

    The EFCC had, last week obtained an ex-parte order allowing it to detain Ayeni for 14 days.

    The Commission had told the court that it was investigating a petition submitted by the office of the Vice President, in respect of Ayeni’s alleged roles as Chairman of the defunct Skye Bank.

    Ayeni, by his application, challenged the order for his detention and prayed the court set it aside, claiming that it was fraudulently obtained by the EFCC.

    Raji had, while arguing the application,  informed the court that there is a pending charge against his client before the Federal High Court on the same subject matter.

    He added that the trial judge at the Federal High Court, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba has granted bail to Ayeni in the case before the Federal High Court. He said the bail has since been perfected

    Raji argued that Ayeni’s detention by the EFCC was a breach of his fundamental human right. He added that his client reported at the EFCC by himself on invitation.

    Raji said the EFCC purportedly admitted the applicant to administration bail on non -realizable terms, which amounts to “giving bail with one hand, and collecting it back with the other hand”.

    He argued that the subject matter in which the applicant was detained centers around Skye bank issue which is already before the Federal High Court.

    Responding, lawyer to the EFCC, A.I Audu opposed to the application on ground that the subject matter of which the applicant is being detained was fresh quite different from the that of the matter before the Federal High Court.

    Audu contended that aside the petition submitted by the office of the Vice President, the acting Chairman of the Commission also received a petition against the applicant from a non-governmental organization.

    He however added that the applicant was invited based on the petition that he received about N8 billion from CBN to buy over Union Homes.

    Audu further submitted that the applicant has been giving useful information to the Commission but fell ill along the way and he was consequently taken to the hospital.

    He stated that was the applicant’s illness prompted the commission to obtain an order to further remand him to complete the investigation.