The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has refuted claims that its officers assaulted lawyers who were protesting the detention of their colleague, Philip Ojo, at the EFCC office in Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to PUNCH Online, Ojo was released later that day following a protest by members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ibadan branch at the EFCC office.
The reasons for Ojo’s detention remain unclear, but it is believed to be related to a fundamental human rights lawsuit filed against an unidentified EFCC official.
One of the protesting lawyers, Adedeji Falujo, explained that the EFCC officer involved in the lawsuit claimed that the suit contained false information and demanded that Ojo and a bailiff write a statement about the alleged inaccuracies. When Ojo refused, he was detained.
Falujo added that Ojo was released after the leadership of the EFCC Ibadan Zonal Command intervened to resolve the issue.
He recounted that the lawyers were peacefully protesting outside the EFCC office when they were allegedly teargassed, but they persisted until Ojo was released.
Ibrahim Lawal, Chairman of the NBA Ibadan branch, condemned Ojo’s detention, describing it as “illegal and unlawful.”
Additionally, Lagos-based human rights lawyer Festus Ogun criticized the EFCC’s actions, calling for those responsible to be sanctioned.
However, Olumide Egbodofo, head of the Public Affairs Department at the EFCC Ibadan Zonal Command, confirmed Ojo’s release but denied the allegations of assault and teargassing. He stated that the EFCC’s actions were aimed at maintaining order and that no harassment occurred.
