Posted by By GODWIN TSA Abuja on
The alleged acquaintance of the embattled Plateau State Governor, Chief Joshua Dariye, Ms. Christabel Bentu, has dragged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a Federal High Court over what she described as her illegal detention and violation of her rights to personal liberty.
The alleged acquaintance of the embattled Plateau State Governor, Chief Joshua Dariye, Ms. Christabel Bentu, has dragged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a Federal High Court over what she described as her illegal detention and violation of her rights to personal liberty.
Accordingly, she is demanding from the EFCC, exemplary and aggravated damages of N200 million for unlawful arrest, detention and interference with her privacy.
The alleged friend of Dariye in the offences of money laundering, Madam Bentu, was arrested in Jos, Plateau State, on December 4 and has since been in the custody of the EFCC in Abuja.
In a smart move to forestall an alleged plan by the EFCC to move her out of the country to London to face trial, her counsel, Dr. Olumide Ayeni has deposited her international passport in the custody of the court.
It would be recalled that Bentu was in September 2004 arrested along with Dariye by the Metropolitan Police in a London Hotel on suspicion of money laundering.
EFCC in an official statement in Abuja last week had alleged that Dariye and Bentu jumped bail and escaped to Jos and has since refused to go back to answer charges against them in London.
In a supporting affidavit to the application for Leave to enforce her fundamental rights, Ayeni said that while in detention in Abuja, Bentu was forced by the EFCC operatives to telephone her daughter, Mrs Louisa Aluko to search for and bring to the EFCC the international passport and her clothes.
He contended that EFCC was concluding plans to extradite her to United Kingdom without complying with Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution and the rules guiding extradition of citizens
Ayeni also stated in the affidavit that there was no criminal charge against his client by the Metropolitan Police to warrant her extradition.
He alleged that Bentu has been subjected to degrading and inhuman treatment in EFCC custody and that she was not allowed access to her family, friends and lawyers.
``Since the applicant has been detained, she has been refused the opportunity to take her bath or otherwise refresh herself in any form or manner'' he said.
In the motion filed Ex-Parte, the applicant is seeking an order of the court granting leave to enforce her fundamental right.
She is also seeking a declaration that her arrest, detention and continued detention by EFCC was a gross violation of her right to dignity of her person, a gross violation of her rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement.
The applicant also seek an order of mandatory injunction directing the respondents; the Attorney General of the Federation and the EFCC to release her from the unlawful detention and custody and/or produced her before the court and show cause why she should not be released.