Abdulrasheed Bawa, the jailed former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has filed a lawsuit against the Department of State Services (DSS), also referred to as the State Security Service (SSS), for his prolonged confinement without charge or trial since June 14, 2023.
In the lawsuit brought on his behalf by Barrister Chinedu Oburu of Edu Oburu & Co. and filed at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court for the Enforcement of Fundamental Rights, Bawa requested that the court rule that his detention without charge or trial was unlawful and order his immediate release.
The suit, designated FHC/CS/2108/23, is brought under the inherent jurisdiction of the honorable court and in accordance with Order 11 Rules 1, 2 and 3 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure Rules 2009), Sections 35(1)(4)(a), (5)(a)(b), 41(1), and 46 of the 1999 Constitution as amended. Abdulrasheed Bawa is the applicant in this case, and SSS (DSS) is the respondent.
In the suit filed on October 20, 2023, the former EFCC chairman sought the following orders:
“A Declaration that the continued detention of the Applicant from June 14, 2023 till date without Arraignment or Criminal prosecution is a fragrant abuse and violation of his fundamental rights to freedom, liberty and personal dignity.
“AN Order directing the Respondent to immediately release the Applicant from custody.
“And for further or other Orders as the Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.”
In an affidavit in support of the application before the court, the legal practitioner stated that the government of former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed the Applicant as the Chairman of the EFCC, one of the government institutions established to fight and curb corruption in Nigeria.
He noted that the Applicant was suspended from office by the Federal Government on June 14, 2023, and was subsequently invited for interrogation by the Respondent (SSS) herein.
He said,
“That upon arrival at the offices of the Respondent on June 14, 2023, the Applicant was promptly detained.
“That since June 14, 2023 (over 120 days) that the Applicant was detained, he has remained in the Respondent’s detention facility without any criminal charge or trial proffered against him till date.
“That the continued illegal detention of the Chairman of the EFCC without any charge is an affront and assault on the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
“That the continued and indefinite detention of the EFCC chairman without any criminal charge is a necked assault on the Fundamental Rights of the Applicant as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).”
He, however, stated that he brought the action in the overall interest of the Applicant, the Nigerian public, democracy and rule of law in Nigeria and the need to sustain the anti-corruption spirit and momentum.
Sahara Reporters