A former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, has sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the seizure of his property.
He filed the suit on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Obanikoro and his family are suing the commission, seeking court’s declaration that the forceful seizure of their personal effects constitutes a gross violation of their rights.
The applicants include Obanikoro’s wife Moroophat, his sons Gbolahon, Babajide and his wife Fati.
They are praying the court for an order, setting aside the forceful detention of their properties on June 14, 2016.
The applicants are also demanding an “unreserved public apology”, as well as N100m as general damages against the commission.
They are also seeking an order restraining the EFCC from arresting, detaining or harassing them or entering their premises again to seize their properties.
The EFCC had claimed that Obanikoro received suspicious payments from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) through companies linked to his family.
It said that about one million dollars was transferred from the ONSA to Mob Integrated Services on March 18, 2015.
But, the family, though their lawyer, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), said that the documents and properties seized by the EFCC had nothing to do with the ONSA.
They claimed that the commission violated Regulation 13 of the EFCC (Enforcement Regulation) 2010 ,which provides that it shall “apply and obtain” a court order to enter and search any premises.
But the commission had told court to dismiss the suit, insisting that it acted in accordance with the provisions of the law.
Justice Abdulazeez Anka has fixed March 28 for ruling.
