Ozekhome speaks on Fayose’s detention by the EFCC

Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN)

Human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), says efforts had begun to secure the release of former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody.

Ozekhome said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

Fayose, whose tenure as governor ended on Monday, had on Tuesday reported at the EFCC office in Abuja to answer to some allegations levelled against him while in office.

Ozekhome said “Fayose’s lawyers are already taking steps to enforce his fundamental human rights by getting him released.

“Yes, his lawyers will go to court to enforce his fundamental human rights. The EFCC has no right to keep him for over 24 hours.

“If they have done that by obtaining a Magistrate Court’s Order that will be in the form of “holding charge” which has been declared unconstitutional and illegal by the Supreme Court”.

Ozekhome said that the section of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) permitting a magistrate to detain a suspect for 14 days was illegal.

According to him, any action outside the provisions of Section 35 of the Constitution which specifically provides for 24 hours was illegal and unconstitutional.

He explained that the ACJA allowed for detention of a suspect for 14 days, but that Section 35 of the Constitution made it clear that a person could only be detained for 24 hours.

“So, when there is a clash between the statute, like the ACJA, and the Constitution, the Constitution prevails by virtue of Section 1(3).

“If they have gotten an order for two weeks from the magistrate court, it is unconstitutional,” Ozekhome stressed.