Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has initiated legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), claiming a threat of arrest and prosecution following his tenure.
The governor's lawyer, Darlington Ozurumba, filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
During a court session on Tuesday, Ozurumba announced that he had withdrawn a previous summons and submitted a new one. He confirmed that the EFCC had been served with the updated documents, although EFCC counsel Hadiza Afegbua stated she had not yet reviewed them.
The court noted that proof of service was absent from the file and adjourned the case until November 11.
In his original summons, filed on June 6, Sanwo-Olu presented seven questions and sought 11 specific reliefs. He argued for recognition of his constitutional rights to private life and property ownership, asserting these rights should be upheld both during and after his governorship.
Furthermore, he contended that any threats of investigation or arrest by the EFCC during his time in office were unconstitutional.
Sanwo-Olu's suit claims that ongoing harassment and threats from the EFCC are politically motivated attempts to undermine him. He seeks a court order to prevent the EFCC from arresting or detaining him in connection with his governorship, as well as from seizing his assets or freezing bank accounts linked to him or his family.
The affidavit supporting the summons includes allegations from a litigation secretary who claims the EFCC is planning to target Sanwo-Olu's aides and family members with false corruption allegations. The document suggests that the agency is pressuring contractors involved in state projects to provide incriminating statements against the governor.
