02 Jul 2015

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Ex-Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso

By Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano 


The lawyer of Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State, Mr. Okechukwu Eze, has told the Kano High Court sitting in Gezawa that the threat of arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of his client, has confined him to his residence in Abuja.


In his address yesterday at the court on the ex-parte motion filed to restrain the EFCC from arresting Kwankwaso, the lawyer explained that the move by the commission, if executed, would deny his client of his fundamental human rights.


“My client has been in his house over the threat of arrest by the EFCC and has been denied the liberty to perform his legislative duties as mandated by voters of Kano Central District,” Eze informed the court.


Kwankwaso’s attorney further told the court that EFCC’s action emanated from a petition by an unregistered association that has no written address, even as he pointed out that he was in court to halt the likely violation’ of his client’s rights.


“We have expressive fear that Kwankwaso’s right to liberty, freedom of movement as guaranteed under the constitution is likely to be violated by EFCC,” he said.


Eze who admitted that “EFCC has the power to investigate financial crimes,” however, declared that “it should be based and founded on reasonable suspicion.”


He argued that Kwankwaso had not violated the pension laws to warrant his invitation by the EFCC and told the court that his client deserved praise for bringing surplus to the pension fund.


Subsequently, Kwankwaso’s lawyer prayed the court to restrain the EFCC from arresting him.


He asked the court to grant an order to maintain status quo ante, pending the determination of the suit.


He also pleaded with the court to grant his prayers on the grounds that the “injunction would be used as a shield and not as a sword.”


The presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Yahaya reserved rulings till today (Thursday)

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/lawyer-threat-of-efcc-arrest-has-confined-kwankwaso-to-his-residence/213664/