Court Dismisses Human Rights Violation Suit Against EFCC

By Lekan Lisoye

An Ogun State High Court sitting in Sagamu has dismissed a case of an alleged breach of human rights filed by one Dotun Jacob Oseni, the Managing Director of Merit Abode Nigeria Limited against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Estate Developer, Jacob Dotun Oseni, had dragged the anti-graft  agency before the Court for investigating a land matter with some residents of Emerald Garden City Estate, Alahun Village, Simawa, Sagamu local government area of Ogun State.

The realtor had alleged that the EFCC had trampled on his right by inviting him and investigating a land matter between him and residents of Emerald Garden City Estate which resulted into withholding of his international passport by the anti-graft agency 

He had also asked the court to order the EFCC to pay him the sum of N100 million damage for allegedly violating his human rights.

Ruling on the suit on Monday,  Justice Nasiru Agbelu dismissed the case, but ordered that the EFCC should return the international passport of the applicant, saying that the land matter is purely a civil matter that need to be determined by the Court.

He held that the EFCC had not detained nor tortured the applicant so there was no evidence that his right it's been trampled upon.

Reacting to the verdict, the counsel to the residents, who are also part of the respondents in the suit, insisted that the real matter before the court was a case of fraudulent practice allegedly perpetrated by the Managing Director of Merit Abode Nigeria Limited, which prompted them to report the matter to the EFCC.

He said the land in contention was a State government land allegedly sold to his clients fraudulently, this made them to report to EFCC, and in the process of investigation, the realtor was asked to submit his traveling documents.

"The real suit has not been deposed off, and I will discuss with the EFCC counsel to know the next line of action.

"Contrary to his claim, the land he is selling to the public is an acquisition. Ogun State own that land. My clients had to apply to Ogun State government for ratification to allow for proper documentation.