Senator Shehu Sani Drags EFCC To Court, Demands N100m

Former Senator and rights activist, Shehu Sani, has dragged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to court over his continued detention.

The suit filed by Shehu Sani’s counsel, Abdul Ibrahim (SAN), before Justice A. B. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Gudu, Abuja, indicates that the hearing would commence on Monday 20th January 2020.

Shehu Sani is suing the EFCC and the owner of ASD Motors, Alhaji Sani Dauda for the sum N100 million as damages for his illegal detention.

Abdul Ibrahim filed the “motion under Enforcement of Fundamental Human Rights Procedure in the case between Sen. Shehu Sani vs EFCC and ASD Motors.”

The application was also filed for Senator Shehu Sani’s release, which was also due for hearing on Monday.

Naija News reports that the EFCC had arrested Senator over alleged extortion.

Senator Sani allegedly collected money from Sani Dauda, owner of ASD Motors, promising to pass it on to Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the anti-graft agency.

Sani, who represented Kaduna central senatorial district between 2015 and 2019, also reportedly said he could assist Dauda in influencing the outcome of some cases using his connection with Muhammad Tanko, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and some other judges.

CJN Tanko had distanced himself from Sani, saying he has never had anything to do with the former Kaduna central lawmaker.

However, Sani, in a statement, described his arrest and detention by the EFCC as unfair, unjust, prearranged and politically motivated.

The former lawmaker stated that the allegations against him was an attempt to dent his image as a result of his criticism of the current government.

The political activist denied talking to Sani Dauda about any form of bribe or gratification to be given to any judge or any EFCC official.

Responding, EFCC acting spokesman, Tony Orilade, insisted that the Sani has a case to answer.

He said: “Let it be stated clearly, that Senator Shehu Sani has questions to answer as regards the alleged involvement in name-dropping, and particularly that he obtained $25,000 from Alhaji Sani Dauda, the ASD Motors boss, in order to help shield him from investigations being carried out by the EFCC.”

In a new twist, Suleiman Ahmed, an aide to the former lawmaker, revealed that the ex-Senator was “forced to declare his assets”.

He wondered why the EFCC has not detained Sani’s accuser “who admitted to giving bribe” and why it has not invited “Alhaji Samaila Isa Funtua who was mentioned in the frame up against Shehu Sani?”

“Mr Orilade, what is the connection between allegations of extortion of $25,000 and then searching his residence, blocking his accounts and forcing him to declare his assets?” he asked the EFCC.