Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has initiated a legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), claiming that the anti-graft agency has threatened to arrest, detain, and prosecute him once his tenure as governor ends. The governor, represented by his legal counsel Darlington Ozurumba, filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
On Tuesday, when the case was mentioned, Ozurumba informed the court that he had withdrawn the initial originating summons and replaced it with a revised version. According to Ozurumba, the EFCC had been duly notified and served with the updated court documents. However, EFCC’s counsel, Hadiza Afegbua, indicated that she had not yet received or reviewed the new filings. Justice Abdulmalik noted the absence of proof of service in the court records and subsequently adjourned the case to November 11 for further proceedings.
The original summons, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/773/2024 and filed on June 6, outlines seven legal questions and 11 reliefs sought by Sanwo-Olu. Central to his request is a declaration that, according to Section 37 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, he is entitled to rights of privacy in his personal and family life, which should be upheld both during and after his time in public office. Additionally, Sanwo-Olu seeks the court’s confirmation that, under Sections 43 and 44(1) of the Constitution, he retains the right to acquire, own, and manage both movable and immovable property, including bank accounts, before, during, and after his tenure as governor.
Sanwo-Olu further requests the court to rule that any threat by the EFCC to investigate, arrest, or detain him during his governorship term constitutes a violation of his rights as provided under Sections 35(1) & (4) and 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution. This move by the governor underscores a growing tension between Nigerian state officials and federal anti-corruption agencies over the scope and timing of investigations involving public officeholders.
