EFCC Operative In Trouble

EFCC Operative In Trouble

OpenLife Nigeria reports that in a bid to safeguard his fundamental rights and forestall a process of using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as a debt recovery agent, a traditional ruler, High Chief Peter Oriyomi Adekoya Ogungbesan, the Olu of Ora in Eredo -Epe area of Lagos State, has dragged EFCC, one of its operatives Mr. Callistus I.O in Tax Fraud Section Team A and one Tunde Aghomon before a Federal High Court in Lagos, South West, Nigeria.
According to an affidavit in support of the fundamental right enforcement suit sworn to by the royal monarch himself, High Chief Peter Oriyomi Adekoya Ogungbesan and filed before the court by a Lagos lawyer Barrister Chief Gabriel Giwa-Amu, it was averred thus:
Sometimes in 2008, the third defendant in this suit,Tunde Aghomon bought two Plots of land at Ora Estate, Epe, in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, from the Ora Royal Family, for building development purposes.
At the time of purchase, Mr Tunde Aghomon agreed that construction on the said land was to commence within 10 years of purchase of the said land by him, or the land would be reclaimed by the Ora Royal Family, after a refund of amount paid for such property.
The applicant informed Mr. Aghomon in 2020 of the decision of the Ora royal family to refund the purchased price, paid on the two plots of land since he did not develop the said land within the stipulated time of 10years.
At all material times relating to and connected with the sale of the two plots of land, his elder brother, Hon. Gbolade Ogungbesan stood for and on behalf of Ora Royal Family.
Upon his installation as the traditional ruler of Ora kingdom and Olu of Ora, he invited Mr.Aghomon to his family compound on numerous occasions and informed him that since he left the said two plots of land undeveloped for a period over 10 years, the family had decided to refund his money to him and retake the possession of the said land as agreed between him and the Ora Royal Family.

After the said meeting with him, he still did not commence any manner of development but resorted to the issuing threats and bringing hoodlums and miscreants to the Ora Community to physically attack innocent persons.
On the 12th of December, 2020 at 1:00am, some unknown persons who were later identified as one Callistus(I.O) Tunde Aghomon, led an army of unknown thugs and hoodlums, violently stormed his house at No 1, Ogun Street, Shugbola Quarters, Ora, Mojoda, Eredo-Epe, Lagos State in a commando like and violent operation.
In the cause of the said violent operation, some members of his family suffered psychological trauma which till date they have not recovered from.
The respondents were heavenly armed with over 20 other armed persons.
When his wife, Olori (Mrs.) Ogungbesan summoned the courage to come out of the house to see those attackers, Callistus ordered his men to ransacks my entire house and “fish” him out from “anywhere”, but he was not at home at the time of the said attack by the respondents.
Callistus then dropped a note, requesting that he report to the EFCC’s Office at Tax Fraud Section, Team A, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State at Block C Room 14.
He reported as requested by Callistus and to his surprise he was told that the Callistus was away to Port Harcourt, Rivers State on essential assignment and was told to go and report again.
He reported on two other occasions and did not meet Mr. Callistus
Upon his private inquiry, he discovered that Tunde Aghomon who is a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police, was once the Lecturer of the Callistus and had procured him to cause him irreparable hurt and injury, as he openly boasted that he was going to deal with him ruthlessly.

To lay credence to his boasting, he went to his bank to make some withdrawal he was informed that Aghomon on the instructions of EFCC have written to his bank and frozen his accounts and that of the community development Association.
As a result of the unlawful and unconstitutional actions of the respondent he has not been able to meet his financial obligations,and the community and he as the traditional ruler has been thrown into grave embarrassment and bankruptcy.
He has suffered untold hardship and financial loss of immeasurable proportion as a result of the action of the respondents.
The accounts frozen was not used in receiving funds/incomes in manner suggesting financial or economic crimes.
The freezing of his accounts and that of the Ora Community Development
Association is malicious.
The transaction between Aghomon and our family, Ora Royal Family, was land and if there is any issue arising therefrom, as, in this case, the appropriate place to approach for recovery of money paid is the Law Court and not procuring or using officer and men of the EFCC and Mr.Callitus to freeze his accounts and that of the community development association.
as respondents are not debt recovery agency whatever remedies Aghomon seeks in a land matter lies in Civil suit and not to continue to use the EFCC and Callistus to unlawfully violate his fundamental rights.
Till date the Respondents had continued to unlawfully threaten, harass and intimidate him with several phone calls threatening to arrest and detain him on pent-up charges.
Consequently, Chief Ogungbesan is seeking the following reliefs from the court:
A declaration that the harassment and continue harassment of the applicant by the men of the EFCC and Callistus on the instigation by Tunde Aghomon is a gross violation and breached of the Applicant’s fundamental rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35 and 41 of Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) 2011.
An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Respondents either by themselves their officers, servants, agents, privies and otherwise howsoever acting for them, from harassing and/or further harassing and molesting or in any manner infringing the fundamental rights of the Applicant in the name and style of conducting Police/ investigation at the instance of the Tunde Aghomon on issues or all other issues incidental thereto relating to or connected with Two(2) Plots of land issue between the Applicant and Tunde Aghomon.
A declaration that the freezing of their accounts;Is unlawfully, unconstitutional and in breach of the Applicant Fundamental Human Rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria

An order of this Court directing/compelling the EFCC and Callistus to unfreeze and lift the Post No Debit (PND) place on the Applicant’s Accounts with Zenin bank and Access bank or any other bank upon the complaint of EFCC

(e) N5 million being damages for unlawfully interference and freezing of the Applicant’s accounts.

N5,million being damages for harassment, intimidation of the Applicant in breach of the Applicant’s Fundamental Human Right as enshrined in the Sections 34, 35 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) 2011
Meanwhile,the applicant has filed an application before the court seeking the order of the court to serve the court process and other subsequent processes in this suit on Mr.Tunde Aghomon by substituted means to wit: by pasting the said processes at number 7 Agodo Street, Odogunyan, Ikorodu, Lagos state being Tunde Aghomon’s last known address.
An order deeming the said pasting of the court processes at his last known address is as good and proper service.