Richmond C. Amadi is an independent journalist, Book Publisher, member of RSU Alumni, Researcher (currently researching with Researchgate.net), Writer, Motivational Speaker. He is a BSc Holder in Office and Information Management, and Diploma holder in Management all from Rivers State University. Currently doing his MSc with RSU. Contact him on Richmond.amadi@ust.edu.ng or Amadirichmondc@gmail.com All Social Platforms: @amadirichmondc
“Having confirmed the search warrant, the EFCC officials told us that nobody will follow them in as they will only go in alone. We resisted as young lawyers and stated expressly that the principle of search is that the owner of the premises of his representatives must be present to observe the search”
Three legal practitioners, young lawyers in Epe, Lagos, on Tuesday, reportedly claimed that they burst plot by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to plant foreign currency in the house of former governor of the state, Akinwunmi Ambode.
The lawyers, Fatai Adebanjo, Samson Okuneye and Busari Olanrewaju alleged that they resisted officials of the EFCC from searching Ambode’s house without their presence as the law states.
The lawyers, according to TheCable, said the operatives were with a big bag as they were about to enter the residence, but upon being interrogated as to its content, the officials left it outside the building.
In their statement, the lawyers revealed that they later discovered that the said bag contained notes of hard currency which the EFCC operatives intended to plant in Ambode’s house and by that way implicate him.
The statement reads: “At early hours of today, we were duly briefed that some officers of the EFCC invaded the apartment of the former governor of Lagos state, his excellency Akinwunmi Ambode with the intention to search the premises.
“We got to the scene and met with the officials of the EFCC to inquire whether they have a search warrant to search the premises of the the former governor.
“Having confirmed the search warrant, the EFCC officials told us that nobody will follow them in as they will only go in alone. We resisted as young lawyers and stated expressly that the principle of search is that the owner of the premises of his representatives must be present to observe the search.
“They succumbed to our superior argument and allowed us and the people who has the key to the former governor’s house into the apartment with them. Before they entered, we searched all the officials of the EFCC who intended to go in to effect the search.
“There was a blue bag which they were holding with them, we requested to see the content of the bag before they could take it in. They got angry and said we cannot see the content. Having said that, we strongly resisted them to take it in since they cant allow us to see it, which they later agreed.
“We later got to know that the bag contained foreign currency which they brought to plant in the house of the former governor to incriminate him.
“It is important to inform the public that before they entered the house, we all submitted our phones to them as they requested that the only person required to go in with phone is one of them who will record the whole process.
“Flowing from the aforesaid, they searched the nooks and crannies of the former governor’s house and they couldn’t find any incriminating documents or materials. We authoritatively assert that, they did find anything in the house and they didn’t leave the house with anything.
“We followed them as they entered from one place to the other, when our presence was intimidating them, they said we should sit down while they will do the search. We resisted that we must follow them to observe every of their activities in the premises.
“To our greatest consternation, the officials of EFCC led by Rotimi Oyedepo, held on to our phones and told us to follow them to their office in Ikoyi to get our phones.
“All efforts to get back our phones was abortive as the EFCC officials led by Rotimi Oyedepo, rushed into their white Hiace bus with our phones and instructed that since we have resisted their efforts to take “the said blue bag” into the main premises of the former governor, they will hold on to the phone. Thus, almost six (6) phones were forcefully taken away, iPhones inclusive.
“It is our happiness as young lawyers in Epe to be part of the process to legally and successfully resist the EFCC from incriminating the former governor with the blue bag they brought with them from an unknown destination, and we also compelled them to conduct the search within the ambit of the law. Hence, the success.”
