Mambilla Project: Agunloye to appeal ruling on fundamental rights

The last has not been heard about the International Arbitration on Mambilla Power Project as former minister, Dr. Olu Agunloye is challenging the ruling of the Federal High Court on his fundamental rights.

He is challenging the verdict of the court that dismissed his suit seeking the restraint of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Agunloye had in June 2023 filed a suit to restrain EFCC from harassing him and breaching his fundamental rights because of the ongoing International Arbitration on Mambilla Power Project.

But, nine months into the suit, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, 18 March 2024 dismissed the suit.

The court held that Agunloye’s plea had become irrelevant or expired in reality because the EFCC, the Respondent, had, while the case was in progress, declared him wanted, detained him, maltreated him in detention, arraigned him before another court and remanded him in prison until the court granted him bail.

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Justice Egwuatu, however, did not consider the merits of the case largely on the ground that EFCC has the power to carry out its statutory duties and can not be stopped by the Court. On this basis.

Justice Egwuatu dismissed the suit and awarded costs.

Not satisfied, Agunloye’s lawyers have expressed preparedness to appeal the ruling on the ground that the court admitted basing its ruling on the suit being “an attempt to use the instrumentality of the Court to shield the Applicant from criminal investigation and to interfere with the statutory authority of the Respondent to investigate crimes or allegations of same in line with the EFCC Act.”

“It is believed that the duties of EFCC must be performed in accordance with the law, and the court has the powers to stop any infraction by the EFCC in the course of performance of its duties. Such does not amount to interference with the statutory duties of EFCC but a legal checkmate of its powers to deter likely abuse,” argued his advocate.