Courts Grants Fayose’s Associate Abiodun Agbele N50m bail, Slams N5m Damages Against EFCC

An FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja has ordered the release of Governor Ayo Fayose’s ally, Abiodun Agbele from Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody, PUNCH reports

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi delivering his ruling, said that the “wrongful and illegal detention” of the suspect without a competent court order and without being charged to court is a “gross violation” of his human right.

He therefore awarded N5m as damages against the EFCC.

Agbele was arrested on June 27 in connection with the alleged N1.2bn Ekiti governorship campaign scandal.

The EFCC on June 30, obtained a remand order from a Magistrate Court in Ogba to hold Agbele for 14 days.

Agbele’s counsel, Mike Ozekhome said that the EFCC renewed his detention after the given grace period of 14 days lapsed.

Adeniyi said that since the EFCC transferred Agbele to the FCT, the remand order no longer stands.

He admitted Agbele to N50m bail with one surety who must be at least a director in either the federal civil service or the FCT Administration or any of their agencies of the Federal Government or the FCTA. Adeniyi said that alternatively, the surety could be a responsible Nigerian with verifiable residential address in Abuja, and with title documents of property in Abuja.

He ordered that should the anti-graft commission fail to prefer charges against the suspect within 21 days, all his personal belongings seized by the EFCC should be released to him.