EFCC tells Court to Dismiss Sanwo-Olu’s Suit over Alleged Threats, Calls it Speculative

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss the reliefs sought by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The governor had filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the EFCC, alleging that there was a looming threat of arrest, detention, and prosecution once his tenure as governor concludes. Sanwo-Olu, represented by his counsel Darlington Ozurumba, named the EFCC as the sole defendant in the case.

He raised seven questions and sought 11 reliefs, including a declaration affirming his right to private and family life under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.

The governor argued that the alleged threats were politically motivated and constituted an abuse of executive power. However, the EFCC, through its lawyer Hadiza Afegbua, countered these claims, describing them as "mere conjecture and speculations."

In a counter affidavit, Ufuoma Ezire, a Superintendent and Litigation Secretary in the EFCC's Legal and Prosecution Department, stated, "The entirety of the dispositions contained in the plaintiff’s affidavit is not true, as the application is misconceived and brought in bad faith to mislead this honourable court."

Ezire further clarified that the EFCC had neither threatened nor taken any steps to infringe upon Sanwo-Olu's rights.

"The commission was not investigating the governor and had never invited him or threatened to arrest any member of his staff," he added.