By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA – Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, on Thursday, berated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, describing the arrest of Chairman of Innoson Group of Companies, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, as “a reckless display of power”.
According to Daudu who is the Co-ordinator of the Rule of Law Foundation, “The state must not be seen to operate in a manner where individuals are forced to the point of defending themselves in the face of percieved oppression hence leading to a point of anarchy”.
Speaking at an end of year press conference the Foundation held in Abuja, the ex-NBA boss said: “It is no longer news that in the present administration, the investigation and prosecution powers of the state have been reduced to a state of mockery where individual fights are settled in a manner where the hand which controls the agencies of the state uses such agency or body to harass his perceived political enemy.

“The professionalism expected of the enforcement agents have been denigrated and ridiculed by persons who though purport to be civil servants are political attack dogs in reality.

“It is more worrisome the fact that the affected agencies such as the EFCC and the DSS have no understanding of their powers and terms of engagement. Just as a few days ago, the media was awash with news of arrest and detention of the Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Nigeria Limited, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma by the EFCC in a Gestapo styled operation where both Dr. Chukwuma and his family members were allegedly assaulted by EFCC operatives.
“While the issues leading to Dr. Chukwuma’s arrest remain unresolved, there seems to be no reasonable justification for the actions of the EFCC.

“While certain reports suggest that the EFCC acted on a complaint against Dr. Chukwuma by Guarantee Trust Bank over a financial transaction, other reports suggest that the EFCC claims that Dr. Chukwuma was arrested for certain waivers made in favour of his companies which it considers fraudulent.
“It is however interesting to note, that none of the above excuses should warrant a criminal investigation especially one commenced in the way and manner undertaken by the EFCC without notice or prior invitation.

“The use of maximum force to arrest individial for non-violent offences is a reckless display of power which should be condemned and put a stop to without further ado.

“There is no difference between a reckless sate and a common criminal gang where the statr unleashes force on defenceless individuals.

“Law enforcement agents who engage in any reckless display of power must be investigated and dismissed in the least. The primary duty of law enforcement agencies is to protect individuals against oppression.

“However, the opposite seems to be the case in Nigeria where law enforcement agencies are the primary proponent of oppression against the citizens. There is a need for the regulatory agencies to pay closer attention to the training welfare and discipline of law enforcement agents to ensure that the nation is not shooting itself in the foot by engaging persons with questionable character in law enforcement.

“It is contrary to the social contract between the people and the state that a state which cannot protect its people with maximum force will oppress such people with excessive force.
“The state must understand that any application of unnecessary force on individuals is equal to oppression and nature abhors oppression.

“Indeed, where there is a breach of our criminal laws, the state must act to enforce the necessary correctional consequences. However, in so doing, tge sanity of the society must be preserved and protected.

“The relevant authorities must therefore draw a line between power and duty and also ensure that every intending officer undertakes a comprehensive training on ethics.

“Also, law enforcement agents must engage in a continous professional training ti sustain their understanding of their rules of engagement”, he added.
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/12/arrest-innoson-boss-reckless-diplay-power-efcc-ex-nba-president/

when the police or EFCC sent invitation to anyone and the individual refuse to honor the invitation. the EFCC or police has no right to issue arrest to person like innoson in the manner they did. what they need is seek for arrest warrant from a court/AGF. the AGF should then assign arrest warrant to innoson after going through the charges.
and if the charges don't deserve arrest it will be trash by the court.
and instead advise they send innoson a court letter.

the fact innoson is not a criminal and doesn't pose any threat to the public, what the EFCC should have done is to present the arrest warrant to innoson. having go through the validation of the warrant by then innoson can decide to follow them.

as it stand there are no arrest warrant as the AGF just confirm that he was not aware. the case will cost the EFCC big shame.

if innoson an industrialist can pass through this mess in the hands of our security agents under buhari. just to imagine what the poor are going through.

Let afonjas come and term him ipob

Baboons shouting boycott gtb should know gtb employs more Nigerians than even d innoson dey re crying about.

MasterKim:
Baboons shouting boycott gtb should know gtb employs more Nigerians than even d innoson dey re crying about.

So that gives them the rights to steal money from customers accounts.

Bigger banks that engaged in unethical practices had crashed in the past and Nigeria did not crumble.

MasterKim:
Baboons shouting boycott gtb should know gtb employs more Nigerians than even d innoson dey re crying about.

you don chop? Oya take go chop night food

fineboynl:
when the police or EFCC sent invitation to anyone and the individual refuse to honor the invitation. the EFCC or police has no right to issue arrest to person like innoson in the manner they did. what they need is seek for arrest warrant from a AGF. the AGF should then assign arrest warrant to innoson after going through the charges.

the fact innoson is not a criminal and doesn't pose any threat to the public, what the EFCC should have done is to present the arrest warrant to innoson. having go through the validation of the warrant then innoson can decide to follow them.

as it stand there are no arrest warrant as the AGF just confirm that he was not aware. the case will cost the EFCC big shame.

And I ask again, "Does the Police need to seek arrest warrant for every individual they deem culpable or does the rule apply to only politically exposed persons?"

Besides, no one is a criminal until proven guilty.

wirinet:


So that gives them the rights to steal money from customers accounts.

Bigger banks that engageday in unethical practices had crashed in the past and Nigeria did not crumble.

Was he arrested secretly or taken to a secret location?

And why didn't you sue them if they stole from you?

Ehiscotch:


And I ask again, "Does the Police need to seek arrest warrant for every individual they deem culpable or does the rule apply to only politically exposed persons?"

Besides, no one is a criminal until proven guilty.

when the police or EFCC sent invitation to anyone and the individual refuse to honor the invitation. the EFCC or police has no right to issue arrest to person like innoson in the manner they did. what they need is seek for arrest warrant from a AGF. the AGF should then assign arrest warrant to innoson after going through the charges.

the fact innoson is not a criminal and doesn't pose any threat to the public, what the EFCC should have done is to present the arrest warrant to innoson. having go through the validation of the warrant then innoson can decide to follow them.

as it stand there are no arrest warrant as the AGF just confirm that he was not aware. the case will cost the EFCC big shame.

BLACKdagger:
Let afonjas come and term him ipob

Don't start.

MasterKim:

Was he arrested secretly or taken to a secret location?

And why didn't you sue them if they stole from you?

He was arrested without an arrest warrant and he had been kept in custody beyond the constitutionally allowed 24 hrs.

GTB is very notorious for deducting all kinds of unreasonable charges. I have an account with them. You can confirm from other people with account with them, especially corporate accounts.

MasterKim:
Baboons shouting boycott gtb should know gtb employs more Nigerians than even d innoson dey re crying about.

Do u lack a brain so badly

Isokowadoo:


Do u lack a brain so badly

No. do you?

No right thinking being will side with gtb on this..

Well, afonjas will side with gtb

That's why they're no right thinking

MasterKim:
Baboons shouting boycott gtb should know gtb employs more Nigerians than even d innoson dey re crying about.

have you collected your gala today?