A 19-year-old 300-level nursing student of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Miss Oluwateniola Omidiji, has filed an action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over her unlawful detention.
Miss Omidiji initiated a fundamental rights case against EFCC marked FHC/L/CS/759/224. The suit was filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
She alleged that she was taken hostage by EFCC personnel over a debt which one Mr. Charles Nwoko alleged that her mother owed him from a business deal.
Nwoko accused her mother, Mrs Omoniyi Omidiji of owing him N100 million.The complainant stated that personnel of the anti-graft agency from its Lagos Zonal Command took her from the university premises during examination on April 26, 2024 and detained her for days unlawfully.
In the application filed by her lawyer, Chijioke Emeka (SAN) of Auxano Law, the student argued that she was only 16 years old (a minor) when her mother entered into the partnership with Mr. Nwoko and she knew nothing about the deal.
She further stated that it was wrong for the EFCC to hold her hostage over a crime allegedly committed by her mother.
She also argued that the transaction was a civil matter and asked the court to order the EFCC to leave her out of the issue and pay her N10,000,000 in damages for the violation of her fundamental rights to human dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and freedom of movement.
The court has not fixed a date for the hearing of the case.
However, Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday ordered the release of Miss Omidiji following an application for the enforcement of her fundamental human rights brought by her lawyer.
Omidiji had already spent 11 days in EFCC custody.
● Report by Saharareporters