Posted by From George Oji in Abuja on
Former Inspector Gene-ral of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, who is standing two separate trials over money laundering, theft and gratification yesterday slumped in court and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Former Inspector Gene-ral of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, who is standing two separate trials over money laundering, theft and gratification yesterday slumped in court and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
He slumped after a rough encounter with detectives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) who tried to force him into their vehicle.
The former police boss who is challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the 92-count charge on gratification preferred against him by EFCC was in court for the ruling on the application.
Trouble began for Balogun, however, after the court presided over by Mr. Justice Salisu Garba assumed jurisdiction to hear the matter. The trial judge also held that the EFCC had established a prima facie case against Balogun.
He held that since Balogun was already properly before him, he (Balogun) would not go home except he executed a bond. The bail bond required Balogun to provide two sureties with national honours and landed property at either Asokoro or Maitama in Abuja.
Efforts by Balogun's counsel, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, to sway the court to vary the bail terms were, however, turned down as the trial judge insisted that he had already adjourned the matter for the day.
As Balogun walked out of the courtroom in company of Abayomi, he was immediately sandwiched by four operatives of EFCC who attempted to force him into a waiting Peugeot wagon car 504 with registration number AG 256 YAB.
Abayomi tried to stop the operatives, saying the former police boss would not follow them.
He even held the shirt of one of the operatives to protest the arrest, but was promptly shoved away, while they (operatives) forcefully bundled Balogun into the car and sped off.
The operatives were, however, prevented from driving away with the former IGP as the court's security guards quickly locked the exit gate. When the car got to the gate, one of the armed security operatives attempted to force the security guards to open the gate.