Lawyers, CSO task IGP to probe alleged on EFCC by police during court order enforcement
Lawyers Demand Investigation of Police Conduct During EFCC Operation
A coalition of lawyers and civil society advocates, known as the Initiative Against Human Rights Abuse and Torture (INAHURAT), has urged Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu to investigate police officers who allegedly interfered with operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during a recent enforcement of a court order in Abuja.
The group held a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, where Dr. Maxwell Chibuike Opara described the incident at Plot 4022, O.B. Lulu-Briggs Street, Guzape, as indicative of “institutional anarchy and state-sponsored lawlessness.”
According to allegations, unidentified armed individuals on the property used chemical sprays and tear gas against EFCC personnel and issued threats to shoot operatives before the commission managed to secure the premises.
Opara stated that the EFCC operatives faced resistance from armed police officers allegedly connected to the property while executing a Federal High Court order related to a property believed to be linked to criminal proceedings against Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac, also known as Hajia Bilikisu.
The lawyers claimed that the EFCC operatives eventually overpowered the officers involved, detaining two of them while others reportedly fled the scene.
“We request that the Inspector-General of Police investigate who deployed those officers to the property and determine the authority under which they acted,” Opara said. “Nigerians deserve clarity on why police officers provided protection to an individual occupying a property that is subject to a valid court forfeiture order.”
Opara noted that the detained officers are currently in custody, and recent information suggests a significant amount of ammunition was recovered from the property.
He appealed to the Inspector-General to initiate a thorough investigation into the matter, emphasizing that it represents an assault on the rule of law.
The coalition questioned the rationale behind police personnel being assigned to safeguard a private individual, particularly given the Federal Government’s recent directive to withdraw police escorts from unauthorized individuals.
“This woman is not a politically exposed person nor entitled to police protection,” Opara asserted. “Yet she was allegedly surrounded by armed officers resisting law enforcement officials executing a lawful court order.”
The group praised the EFCC for enforcing the court order against Rebecca Bilikisu, who is facing trial on charges related to forgery.
Opara further claimed that the property in question belongs to Collen Mero Yesufu, an 80-year-old widow who has reportedly been denied access despite multiple court orders allowing her to reclaim her home. He alleged that Bilikisu not only refused to vacate the premises but also forged ownership documents, leading to the EFCC investigation after local police efforts were allegedly stymied.
The coalition also raised concerns regarding the issuance of a second Nigerian passport to Bilikisu by officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). They alleged that the passport was processed without her physical presence for biometric capture and while her original passport was supposedly in government custody due to court proceedings.
They called on the Minister of Interior and the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service to address these allegations, cautioning that any compromise in the passport issuance system could pose significant national security risks.
A petition has been submitted by prominent lawyer Femi Falana to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Minister of Interior, and the Comptroller-General of Immigration, seeking a criminal investigation into the alleged passport issuance.
The coalition also urged Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi SAN to authorize a takeover of the ongoing police prosecution involving Bilikisu, arguing that the integrity of the case has been compromised.