We are not holding Jonathan’s cousin illegally, says EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has a valid remand order to keep Roberts Azibaola, cousin of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, in custody.

Reacting to the report that a federal capital territory (FCT) high court faulted its action, the anti-graft agency explained that Goodluck Olasumbo, the presiding judge, only expressed dissatisfaction with the commission over its refusal to produce the suspect in court.

Wilson Uwujaren, spokesman of the EFCC, said the agency apologised to the judge over the issue.

“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to a report entitled, ‘Judge faults EFCC over detention of Jonathan’s Cousin’, which appeared in a number of newspapers on Friday May 27, 2016,” the statement read.

“The syndicated story tended to create the wrong notion that Justice Olasumbo Goodluck of the federal capital territory (FCT) high court, condemned the commission for allegedly violating the fundamental rights of Roberts Azibaola, a suspect that is under investigation for receiving $40m in a phantom contract from the office of the national security adviser.

“This is further from what transpired in court on Wednesday May 25, 2016 when her lordship delivered ruling in the fundamental rights enforcement application of Azibaola. Contrary to the impression created by the jaundiced report, the court did not fault the detention of Azibaola by the EFCC as her lordship held that a remand warrant was validly obtained by the respondent in line with provisions of the administration of criminal justice act and consequently dismissed the application of Azibaola for lack of merit.

“The court merely frowned at the commission’s inability to produce the suspect in line with an earlier order of court on the ex-parte application of Azibaola for which counsel representing the EFCC apologised to her lordship. The commission had earlier filed a motion asking the court to set aside the ex-parte order on the grounds that it was obtained by false information, which the court rejected.

“It must be stated that the EFCC is a law abiding entity and could not have taken any action that would disregard the sanctity of the court.”