Constitutional Lawyer and Human Rights Activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN has raised alarm that former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim is being forced under duress and undue influence to sign self-incriminating and property stripping documents against his will.
Ozekhome in a statement said that contrary to deceitful media publications, Anyim is still being detained in EFCC Gulag, days after planted reports that the commission has allowed the former SFG to go home on administrative bail.
He insisted that Anyim who has fulfilled all administrative conditions including tendering of his international passport, was being kept under inhuman and degrading conditions by the EFCC, Ozekhome alerted that Anyim
The statement signed by the Senior Advocate of Nigeria reads, “We are solicitors to Chief Ayim Pius, former SGF who was detained by EFCC and has since being kept in its Gulag for about 9 days.
“Our attention has been drawn to carefully planted false and misleading reports published in various online and newsprint publications to the effect that Anyim has since Wednesday 22nd November, been released by the EFCC on administrative bail.
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“This is a lie from the pit of hell. Those false reports that credit their source to unnamed sources within the EFCC have continued to circulate throughout Thursday and Friday with intent to deceive the world and divert its attention from the gross abuse of the fundamental rights of Anyim who has been kept under inhuman and degrading conditions for this unconstitutionally lengthy period.
“The truth is that Anyim is still held in EFCC custody up till this minute in spite of fulfilling all administrative bail conditions including deposit of his international passport, and being compelled under duress and undue influence to sign all manner of self-incriminating and property stripping documents against his will.
“In spite of these and the clear position of sections 35 and 36 of the Nigerian Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), the EFCC has bluntly refused to release Anyim to go attend to his very poor health which he was receiving treatment before he was forcibly taken away from his home.
“This is calling on the Attorney General of the Federation and minister of Justice to prevail on the EFCC (Law and Enforcement Agencies) to respect the rule of law and the constitution they have sworn to respect and protect, by promptly ordering Anyim’s release forthwith, since no charges have been preferred against him and since he has fulfilled all administrative bail conditions.”
Chief Mike Ozekhome, Constitutional Lawyer and Human Rights Activist.
