By Abiola Olawale
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has initiated a legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged threat to arrest, detain and prosecute him after his tenure as governor.
Sanwo-Olu, through his lawyer, Darlington Ozurumba, filed the lawsuit before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/773/2024 dated and filed on June 6, the governor reportedly raised seven questions and sought 11 reliefs.
Sanwo-Olu, in the suit, is seeking an order declaring that by the provisions of Sections 43 and 44(1) of the 1999 Constitution, he is entitled to acquire, own, operate and manage both moveable and immovable property.
This, he said, includes bank accounts, as a minimum guarantee encapsulated under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, either before, during or after leaving public office as governor of a state.
He also wants the court to declare that upon community reading of the provisions of Sections 35(1) & (4) and 41(1) of the constitution, the threat of his investigation, arrest and detention by the EFCC during his tenure of office as governor is illegal.
He also said that the plan to arrest him was unconstitutional and a flagrant violation of his fundamental right to personal liberty and freedom of movement as guaranteed under Sections 35(1) & (4) and 41(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 ( as amended).
The governor prayed the court to declare that the incessant harassment, threat of arrest and detention, against him upon alleged instigation, by his political adversaries based on false and politically motivated allegations of corruption is a misuse of executive powers and abuse of public office.
He further wants the court to declare it as an unwarranted Interference in his fundamental right to personal liberty, freedom of movement, fair hearing and equal protection of the law as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the African Charter on Human & Peoples’ Rights, CAP A9 LFN 2004.
Sanwo-Olu, therefore, sought an order restraining the EFCC from harassing, intimidating, arresting, detaining, interrogating or prosecuting him in connection with his tenure as the governor of Lagos State.
He also prayed the court to make an order prohibiting and restraining the commission “from seizing the properties, the international passport and travel documents of the plaintiff or freezing the bank accounts of the plaintiff, his family members or in any other way to further breach the plaintiff’s fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.”
He urged the court to make an order restraining the EFCC from inviting, arresting or detaining him in connection with his tenure as governor of the state or breaching his fundamental rights to personal liberty, fair hearing, private and family life, freedom of movement, acquisition of moveable and immoveable property as enshrined in the laws
The New Diplomat reports that Sanwo-Olu was sworn in as the Governor of Lagos State on May 29, 2019, upon his victory at the polls, and was re-elected and sworn in again for a second term on May 29, 2023
