Pius Anyim is still being detained at EFCC – Ozekhome

A senior lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) said on Friday that former Secretary to the Federal Government Chief Ayim Pius Ayim is being held by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), under duress and undue influence.

He said in a statement that contrary to newspapers publication that Ayim has been released. “The truth is that Ayim is still held in EFCC custody till this minute, inspite of fulfilling all administrative bail conditions laid down for him, including deposit of his international passport “Ozekhome who is Ayim’s solicitor said that is he being compelled under duress and undue influence to sign all manners of self incriminating and property stripping documents against his will.

Inspite of these and the clear provisions of sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), the EFCC has bluntly refused to release Ayim to go and attend to his poor health, his lawyer stated.

Ozekhome (SAN) called on the law enforcement agency and the Attorney General of the Federation to respect the rule of law and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 which they have sworn to protect and defend by promptly ordering Ayim release forthwith.

He maintained that the claim by the EFCC that Ayim has been released was “a lie from the pit of hell intended to deceive the world and divert attention from the gross abuse of the human rights of Ayim who has been kept under inhuman and degrading conditions” unlawfully for the past nine days.

Andrew Orolua, Abuja.