JUSTICE Babatunde Quadri of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the EFCC to unfreeze the account of Abdullaziz Nyako and unseal his property.
Abdullaziz, son of former Adamawa governor, Murtala Nyako, is the current senator representing Adamawa South Senatorial District at the National Assembly.
He, alongside two others, had filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the EFCC in 2015, challenging the EFCC’s decision to freeze their accounts as well as seal the Hillview Estate, Abuja, a property belonging to Nyako.
Nyako said the EFCC’s action was a gross violation of his fundamental human rights as guaranteed by the constitution. He therefore asked the court to order the EFCC to unfreeze his account and pay him N10 billion in damages.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Quadri held that the sealing and forfeiture of the applicants’ property by the EFCC was unlawful and oppressive.
“In conclusion, the application has merit, same is hereby granted but with following indications, that is, only reliefs 1, 2, and 3 are expressly granted while reliefs 4,5 and 6 are refused, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Justice Quadri as ruling.
“The commission is hereby ordered to unfreeze the account of the applicants unconditionally and forthwith.
“The commission, having sealed up the premises of the applicants since July 2014, should unseal it forthwith or better still open up the Hillview Estate immediately.”
The trial judge, however, refused to grant Nyako’s prayer asking for a N10 billion damages against the EFCC. He also did not grant the prayer seeking for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC and its agents from taking any further action against Nyako.
Abdulaziz Nyako, his father, Murtala Nyako, and two others are currently standing trial before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for allegedly defrauding the Adamawa State government to the tune of N15 billion from the Adamawa State treasury, using five proxy companies.
This is the second law suit the younger Nyako would win against the EFCC, following an earlier ruling ordering the anti-corruption agency to pay him N12.5 million in damages for illegal detention.
The bigger case, however, continues in court.