The case, presently before Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court, Abuja, has been slated for April 18 for hearing, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
A former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye has approached Federal High Court, Abuja to award N1billion damages against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for declaring him wanted for alleged complicity in fraud.
Agunloye, who served under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, equally joined the Attorney-General of Federation (AGF) as 2nd defendant.
The case, presently before Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court, Abuja, has been slated for April 18 for hearing, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
The ex-minister sought six reliefs, including a declaration that the EFCC cannot lawfully exercise its discretion, powers and or functions under Sections 1(2\(c\, 6, 7, 13 of the EFCC Act, 2004, ditto Section 4 of the Police Act 2020, by declaring him wanted on its official website or any other related platform.
Agunloye said this was without recourse to any safeguard in Sections 34({1)(a), 35, 37, 39, 41 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), including a judicial intervention, order or leave of court pursuant to Sections 1(1), 8(1) & 42(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
He, therefore, sought an order for the EFCC, its agents, privies, representatives and other related affiliates to forthwith remove his picture, name, references, details and or particulars from the wanted list published on its official website or any other related platform.
He also sought a perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC and the AGF, “both jointly or severally, whether by themselves or their staff, from further declaring the plaintiff wanted in relation to the particulars and subject matter of this suit, either on the EFCC official website, newspaper publication or any other related platform, except by a judicial intervention and recourse to all constitutional safeguards available to him in law and equity.
“General damages of one billion baira (N1, 000, 000, 000 00) against the defendants, especially the 1st defendant
“Cost of this action.”
The minister had spent some days in Kuje prison after he was arraigned on seven counts bordering on fraudulent award of a contract and official corruption.
In January, the same court granted him bail in the sum of N50million.