A High Court sitting in the Mataima district of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, while ruling on the bail application submitted by an aide of Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, Abiodun Agbele‎ ordered that he be paid the sum of N5m as damages by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as compensation for the suspect’s “wrongful and illegal detention” from July 1 till date.

The court held that the order obtained ‎by the anti-graft agency from a  Wide Magistrate Court on July 13 after it was served with the processes of the suit, amounted to nullity, as it (the order) was said to have been obtained to foist a “fait accompli” on the court with respect to the suspect’s suit.

The judge condemned “strongly” what he described as EFCC’s “gross abuse of powers” and its “arrogant display of executive might”‎ for detaining the suspect illegally for the period.

Agbele was arrested by operatives of the EFCC in Lagos on June 27 for his roles in the handling of over N1.2bn on behalf of Fayose during the Ekiti State governorship election in 2014, and has been in detention since then.

The court also ordered that should the EFCC fail to prefer charges against the suspect within 21 days, all his personal belongings seized by the Commission should be released to him.

Though, the court ordered the suspect to deposit his passport with the EFCC as part of the bail conditions, the judge directed that it should be released to him should the anti-graft agency fail to charge him within 21 days.

Oludolapo Adelana

Dolapo is a writer and journalist who works with YNaija. He has interests in Christianity, politics and sports.