Construction Firm Petitions EFCC Over Breach Of Due Process, Unlawful Arrest
The Oasis Reporters
May 25, 2019
By Moses Gbande
The Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in Gombe, is currently facing a legal protest over alleged unlawful arrest of one Chinedu Kingsley Okponwa and meting on him all sorts of abuses.
Chinedu Kingsley Okponwa, according to our findings owns a construction company, popularly known and called, Joelex Construction Company Nigeria Ltd, and was arrested by the Gombe branch of the EFCC, while exercising their functions by unlawfully forcing themselves into his home around 5am of May 24, 2019, bundling and whisking him away.
In a protest letter written to the zonal office of EFCC in Gombe and copied to to the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abuja on Friday and signed by the counsels, Barr. E.I. Suleiman and Nicholas Oche Esq of E.I. Suleiman Chambers expressed dismay over the arrest of Chinedu Kingsley Okponwa, (Joelex).
A copy which was made available to our correspondent in Jos, the Solicitor and counsel to Chinedu Kingsley Okponwa, takes exception to the process that led to the arrest of his client.
“Acting as Solicitors to Chinedu Kingsley Okponwa, and upon his instruction we write to protest the manner in which his home was unlawfully forced into between the hours of 5am to 6am on the 24th day of May, 2019, and was thereafter bundled into your vehicle and whisked away to Gombe state.
“You will recall that our client was invited via a letter from your office dated the 21st of May, 2019 and served on him on the 23rd day of May, 2019, therein asking him to come for an interview slated for Monday, 27th May, 2019 at 10am.
“While our Client was putting his records together in order to attend the said interview as scheduled, and in contrast to your directive, and to the dismay and chagrin of Iogic and civility, your men, in company of the complainant ( Felix Eguh) rather stormed the house of our client, stripped him of his family comfort, love, treated him like a common criminal, denied him the right to his counsel, all for a matter that bothers on civil contract which resulted into a dispute, and which in any case is pending before the Plateau State High Court of Justice.
“Consequent to the above therefore, kindly be advised to allow common reasoning prevail by doing the needful in the right and Iawful direction (ie) his immediate release from custody to enable him comply with your request as contained in the letter of invitation)”. ‘
Further details have shown that, Mr. Felix Egwu through his counsel and Chinedu Kingsley Okpoma are having issues of financial misunderstanding resulting to the later seeking EFCC intervention.
