Abuja High Court Orders EFCC to Release Jonathan's Ex-ADC 'Immediately'

A justice of the federal capital territory in Abuja, has ordered the Economic and Financial Commission Crimes Commission to release the ex-ADC of former President Goodluck Jonathan on bail immediately.

Goodluck Jonathan and his Vice, Namadi Sambo decorating his ADC as Colonel

The Economic and Financial Commission Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been ordered by Yusuf Halilu, a justice of the federal capital territory (FCT), Abuja, to release Ojogbane Adegbe, an ex-ADC of former President Goodluck Jonathan on bail immediately. 

The justice who held that the law should be even-handed between the government and an individual, asked the EFCC to release Adegbe on bail on liberal terms pending his arraignment in court for any offence, and wondered why the EFCC had reduced itself to a 'police station', saying that the anti-graft agency must act within the limits of the law. 

 

He stated that the EFCC had no right to detain an individual at will, adding that it was unconstitutional for the agency to keep Adegbe in detention for more than 24 hours. Before the ruling was delivered, Ogwu Onoja, counsel to Adegbe, informed the court that the EFCC had transferred his client to a military facility after granting him bail on stringent conditions. 

 

Musu Denga, counsel to the EFCC, did not object to the submission of the Ogwu. Thereafter, the judge, stated that his ruling was binding not only on the EFCC, but also on any agency keeping him in detention.

 

Adegbe hauled the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to court to challenge his arrest and continued detention by the anti-graft agency since February 11.