The Initiative Against Human Rights Abuse and Torture (INAHURAT) has alleged that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) came under attack from armed men while enforcing a Federal High Court interim forfeiture order on a property in Abuja, describing the incident as a disturbing assault on law enforcement and the rule of law.
Addressing a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, the organisation’s representative, Dr. Maxwell Chibuike Opara, commended the EFCC for proceeding with the enforcement despite what he described as “violent resistance” at the property located on O.B. Lulu-Briggs Street, Guzape.
According to Opara, the incident occurred on Monday, June 29, when EFCC operatives arrived at the property to execute successive interim forfeiture orders issued by the Federal High Court.
He alleged that unidentified armed men stationed within the premises resisted the operation by deploying tear gas and chemical sprays against the anti-graft agency’s operatives and threatening to open fire.
“When EFCC went to that place to enforce the order, the police officers started attacking EFCC operatives with tear gas and even wanted to shoot the operatives. But the EFCC team overpowered them,” Opara said during the briefing.
The civil society group claimed the property is linked to Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac, also known as Hajia Bilikisu, who is facing criminal proceedings over the disputed property.
Opara praised EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede for authorising the enforcement, saying the operation demonstrated the Commission’s commitment to upholding court orders despite resistance.
“We continue to say that once public officials do well, we will commend them. The EFCC chairman has taken a bold step to ensure that justice is done and that the rule of law is upheld,” he said.
INAHURAT further alleged that armed police officers were deployed to guard the property despite existing court proceedings involving the disputed asset.
According to Opara, some of the officers allegedly fled when confronted by EFCC operatives, while others were arrested during the operation.
He urged the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu to immediately investigate the circumstances surrounding the deployment.
“We want to know who deployed those police officers and what they were doing there. This is an affront to Nigeria as a country,” he said.
The organisation also questioned why police personnel were allegedly attached to a private individual despite the Federal Government’s directive withdrawing police escorts from many private citizens.
Opara further accused the immediate past Inspector-General of Police of using his office to frustrate investigations into the property dispute because of an alleged relationship with the suspect.
He did not present documentary evidence for the allegation during the briefing.
Beyond the events in Guzape, the organisation raised concerns over an international passport allegedly obtained by the suspect while her original passport was deposited before a Federal High Court as part of her bail conditions.
Opara alleged that the suspect subsequently travelled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using the newly issued passport, and criticised the response of the Federal Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
“We want to see the documents used to obtain that passport. We also expect the Minister of Interior and the Comptroller-General of Immigration to investigate the matter and, if necessary, invalidate the passport,” he said.
The group disclosed that petitions had been submitted to the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Minister of Interior, the Inspector-General of Police and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), urging investigations into the passport’s issuance and the circumstances surrounding the police deployment.
INAHURAT also appealed to the Attorney-General of the Federation to issue a fiat allowing an independent prosecution of related criminal proceedings, arguing that confidence in the existing process had been undermined by the allegations raised during the briefing.
The organisation maintained that the dispute centred on property it claimed belonged to an elderly widow, whom it said deserved justice after years of litigation.
It also urged the Inspector-General of Police, the Police Service Commission and the Ministry of Police Affairs to investigate the alleged deployment of officers to the property and make their findings public.
The allegations made during the briefing had not been independently verified as of press time.
The EFCC, the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service had not publicly responded to the specific claims raised by INAHURAT.