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Babalakin Fights Hard To Avoid Arrest and Detention

By on December 20, 2012

Embattled Chairman of Bi-Courtney, Dr. Olawale Babalakin has continued to fight the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Babalakin yesterday filled an ex-parte application at the Federal High Court in Lagos to hold back the Attorney-General of the Federation and EFCC from arresting and detaining him.

The Chairman of Bi-Courtney, Dr. Olawale Babalakin, was accused alongside four others for laundering money for former Delta Governor James Ibori through Mauritius.

It also accused the five suspects of siphoning $11.3million abroad for Ibori through Erin Aviation Account in Mauritius.

The commission filled a 27-count charge against the five suspects in the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja Division.

On behalf of the EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation, A.M. Yusuf Esq filled the 27 count charges dated November 21.

Although Babalakin failed to appear in court last week, he claimed he was ill and on admission at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba.

After series of drama, the Bi-Courtney boss has returned to the court seeking an order to stop the police, State Security Service (SSS), and other security agents from arresting or detaining him.

In a latest development, Justice I.N. Buba refused to grant the ex-parte application

In his ruling on Tuesday, Justice Buba said, “The court, having read the motion ex-parte and in view of Christmas vacation commencing next week, would not want to make an order ex-parte without hearing the respondents and also due to the urgent nature of this matter give this ruling.

“The court, having read the motion ex-parte and in view of Christmas vacation commencing next week, would not want to make an order ex-parte without hearing the respondents and also due to the urgent nature of this matter give this ruling.

“It is hereby ordered as follows: That this suit is adjourned till December 21 for the hearing of the motion on notice.

“That the five days within which to react by the respondents by the Fundamental Right Enforcement Procedure Rules is further abridged to December 21.

“That the respondents shall be served with all processes filed unfailingly on December 18 to enable them react before December 21.”

However, Babalakin has asked the court to protect his fundamental human rights “pursuant to orders I, II, III, IV of the Fundamental Rights (enforcement procedure) Rules 2009.”

He also asked the court to invoke articles 6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right (Ratification and Enforcement) Act No.2 of 1983 and sections 34, 35(1), and 41 of the 1999 Constitution.

He is seeking an “order that the respondents and any other officers, agents or security agencies of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including without limitation the Nigeria Police or the SSS be restrained from harassing, arresting, and/or detaining him in any manner howsoever further to Charge No. ID/239C/2012 filed at the Ikeja Division of the High Court of Lagos.