EFCC Invasion;Andrew Yakubu seeks N1b damages

Disgraced Andrew Yakubu, a former group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), is asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to award N1 billion in his favour as damages against Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for violation‎ of his right.

Andrew Yakubu 

He is also asking the court for a declaration that he was entitled to the dignity of his person, personal liberty, freedom of movement, private and family life as enshrined in the 1999 constitution.

He further wants the court to declare that his continued detention by the EFCC without being charged to court or allowed to complete his medical procedure in the United Kingdom was a violation of his rights.

In an unannounced operation recently, the EFCC had stormed Yakubu’s house located at Chiku road, Sabon Tasha Area, Kaduna South local government area and recovered the sum of 9.772 million dollars and another £74,000.

TM gathered that Yakubu’s counsel, Mr Adeola Adedipe told the court that the matter was brought pursuant to Order 8 Rule 4 of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules.

Joined in the suit are the EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as first and second respondents.

Yakubu, who has been in detention, prayed the court for an order enforcing his rights to personal liberty, dignity of human person, freedom of movement, private and family life.

He wants to be admitted on bail so he can complete his treatment in the United Kingdom. He also wants an order of perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC from further detaining him unlawfully.

Apart from these, he is asking the country to compel the EFCC to tender a public apology to him in two widely published national daily newspapers for the violation of his rights.

Opposing Yakubu’s application, the EFCC‎ through a counter affidavit deposed to by one Waziri Adamu, said the anti-graft agency was still investigating Yakubu and that the interim findings revealed that the monies found in Yakubu’s house were not gifts but suspected to be proceeds of crime.

According to the EFCC, Yakubu was a public officer and there were existing laws that barred public officers from accepting those kind of gifts under any guise.

The EFCC pleaded with the court to allow it continue to detain Yakubu especially as the search conducted in Yakubu’s house was backed with a valid court order.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed adjourned the matter until March 9.