Lawyer Accuses EFCC Of Intimidation, Says His Client, Ididia Not A Fraudster
Counsel to Mr. Edrian Osagie Ididia who was arraigned before a Lagos Special Offences Court over alleged N84 million fraud, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC of intimidation and harassment, stressing that his client is not a fraudster.
He was alleged to have defrauded one David Mark Umeh, to the tune of N84 million.
Speaking to the journalists on Friday, his lawyer, Victor Chinnedu, of Graylaw Partners, declared his client’s arrest and arraignment, as unjust and abuse of power.
He stated that the complainant in the matter, Mr. David Mark Umeh instead of addressing his civil wrong through the courts, chose to use EFCC as a tool of intimidation and harassment against his client.
Victor who is also a human and civil rights lawyer, also said the nominal complainant in the matter, Mr. David Mark Umeh instead of addressing his civil wrong, chose to use EFCC as a tool of intimidation and harassment against his client.
The lawyer also narrated how his client was allegedly kept in EFCC custody for about two months and even denied him administrative bail.
The lawyer said: “our client having honoured the invitation of the EFCC by walking into their office on the 4th of November 2021. The said Osagie had been unjustly kept in custody since 4th of November 2021, He was denied bail administratively severally having fulfilled all requirements requested by the commission without being charged to court.
“After so much power muscling and tussle and incessant disobedience of the court order of the honorable Justice Daniel Osiagor, so a contempt proceeding was filed and served on the EFCC on the 24th day of January 2022.
Contrary to the publication of the 26th day of January 2022 that the said allegation was a failed business transaction between two business associates, rather than Mr. David Mark Umeh, addressing his civil wrong, he chose to use EFCC as a tool of intimidation and harassment against the defendant.
“This buttresses the media trial in which the EFCC throws in the face of a right-thinking person against the integrity of our client”.
