Human Right Lawyers have threatened to sue the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for N20 billion over invasions of Maitama office and Asokoro house of a socialite and businesswoman, Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu.
Addressing newsmen at the Maitama office of the businesswoman, where a detached armed EFCC personnel numbering about 20 were guarding, the Coordinator of the Human Rights Lawyer, Barr. Okere Kingdom, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the EFCC Chairman to order.
Charging the EFCC to obey and follow the constitution of Nigeria by vacating Achimugu’s property, the lawyer disclosed that they will take legal action against the anti graft agency if it continues to harrass, intimidate, humiliate and manhandle the socialite and businesswoman; her household and staff.
Kingdom argued that under Nigerian laws, a suspect is presumed innocent until convicted guilty by a competent court, saying by merely declaring Achimugu wanted by EFCC does not automatically made her a criminal that should be treated in that manner.
The human rights lawyers wondered why EFCC would declared somebody wanted and asked the general public that anyone with information about her should report to its zonal offices or call phone numbers would now be attacking the person’s house and office.
He said: “We and other well meaning Nigerians wake up on Friday to declaration of an international figure, Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu wanted by the anti graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
“EFCC in a circular released by its Head of Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale and published on official social media handles of the commission said; ‘the public is hereby notified that Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
“Achimugu, 51, is an indigene of Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
“Anybody with useful information as to her whereabouts should please contact the commission at its Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt or Abuja offices.”
The Human Rights Lawyers said: “It is curious that EFCC few hours after this declaration invaded Aisha’s House located in Asokoro in Abuja where they harassed her aged mother and would continue with similar despicable act at her house in Maitama.
“This high handedness and brazen violation of a citizen’s fundamental human rights and intimidation of her family members and staff is returning Nigeria to the dark days of the maximum dictator, General Sani Abacha under whose rein Nigerians lived in perpetual fear of the unknown.”
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