Jonathan’s Cousin Says EFCC Forcing Him To Implicate Ex-president
Goodluck Jonathan, former President of Nigeria[/caption]
Robert Azibaola, a cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan has alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is forcing him to implicate the ex-president.
The Niger-Delta activist, on Wednesday filed a lawsuit before the Federal High Court, Lagos, against the EFCC, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his continued detention and refusal to charge him to court.
The EFCC had reportedly detained Mr. Azibaola since March 23, on the allegation that he diverted $40m through a company, One-Plus Holdings, which was awarded by the Office of National Security Adviser, headed by Sambo Dasuki.
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The former NSA is currently facing prosecution at a federal court.
In the suit, Azibaola’s lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, claimed that any attempt to make his client indict the ex-President was a violation of Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, “which has outlawed the practice of arresting a citizen as ransom for the alleged offence of another citizen.”
The applicant claimed, in the suit, that he was commissioned by the federal government to execute an assignment “to navigate the Niger Delta to network with all stakeholders for the purpose of preventing oil pipelines vandalism, oil bunkering and crude oil theft”.
“The assignment was duly executed upon payment,” he stated.
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“Robert is claiming that under section 8 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, he should not be arrested or prosecuted for any civil contract or transaction.
According to him, he is being persecuted based on his blood relation with ex-President Jonathan, accusing the EFCC of perfecting a plan to keep transferring him from state to state so as to renew such remand warrant in other to perpetually keep in detention.
He is also asking the court to hold that sections 293 and 294 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which the EFCC is relying on to secure remand orders from Magistrate Courts were designed to deal with criminal offences attracting capital punishment, such as murder, armed robbery, kidnapping or treasonable felony.
He however pleaded with the court to order his immediate release or that he should be charged to court for any offence against him.
