AgBUJA (Sundiata Post) – Legal fireworks will resume at the Abuja High Court 4, presided over by Justice Baba Yusuf on November 24 unless the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) releases Senator Bala Mohammed, former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, EFCC from its detention.
This is because the former minister who fulfilled his bail condition over three weeks ago had approached the court, through his counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, to enforce his fundamental human rights which, he averred, had been unjustly and unconstitutionally infringed upon by the EFCC. He is also seeking damages of N100m to wit.
In his 15-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Umar Aliyu Usman, the former minister stated that he has suffered substantial deterioration in his health and untold psychological trauma and mental torture following his incarceration.
In suit marked FCT/CV/220/2016 the former minister is praying the court for an order compelling and directing the EFCC to release him on bail forthwith or immediately arraign him before a competent court of law for trial.
He is further seeking a declaration that his arrest and detention since October 24, 2016 till date by the EFCC is illegal, unlawful, unreasonable, unjustified andunconstitutional.
He wants the court to declare that he is entitled to be released on bail by the EFCC [Respondent] pending the investigation of allegations against him and any arraignment before a court of law.
The former minister further asked an order of court enforcing and restoring his fundamental right to personal liberty enshrined and guaranteed by section 35 of the 1999 constitution, which has been violated and is being violated by the respondent.
It will be recalled that Senator Bala Mohammed, CON, had voluntarily reported to the EFCC on Monday October 24, 2016 following an invitation by the anti graft agency into alleged ‘cases of conspiracy, abuse of office and money laundering’.
It is now over three weeks since he fulfilled his bail conditions. However, the EFCC is yet to release him on bail.
His continued incarceration without trial is raising concern among family membersand his legal team because of the pressure on his health.