Posted by By Felix Nnamdi /Abuja on
The former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, this morning, dragged the anti-graft agency and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, before a Federal High Court in Abuja, over what he termed a ruse to arrest and detain him by the police, at the instance of the new leadership of the EFCC.
The former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, this morning, dragged the anti-graft agency and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, before a Federal High Court in Abuja, over what he termed a ruse to arrest and detain him by the police, at the instance of the new leadership of the EFCC.
According to Ribadu, an invitation was given to him by the IG on behalf of the EFCC boss, Mrs. Farida Waziri. He alleged that this same method was applied in the case of Ibrahim Magu, a chief superintended of police working under him while he was the EFCC boss.
Ribadu further alleged that Magu was arrested when he responded to the police invitation and was incarcerated without trial for over two weeks in a cell, in a police station with dangerous criminals, in Abuja.
Ribadu pleaded with the court to grant him leave to enforce his fundamental rights. The presiding judge, Justice Mustapha Abdulahi, while granting Ribadu's request, refused to make the leave act as a stay, so as not to restrain the police from carrying out their duty.
According to Justice Abdulahi, the police has the power to invite any citizen for questioning or interrogation over any issue. He went ahead to allay the fears of Ribadu and urged him to get back to the court if arrested and detained by the police in the course of responding to their invitation. He thereafter adjourned the matter till 28 November, for the hearing of the substantive matter.