By TAIYE AGBAJE

A Mechanical Engineer, Mr Jacob Acheneje, has filed a N100 million fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over his alleged unlawful and continued detention.

Acheneje, in the suit filed by his lawyer, Reuben Atabo, SAN, at the Federal High Court (FHC), also joined Patrick Ilo, the Managing Director of PetroCam Blending Plant Ltd as 2nd respondent in the case.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) observes that Acheneje, in the suit marked: FHC/L/CS/505/2026, which is dated and filed on March 11 by Atabo, sought six reliefs.

He is praying the court for a declaration that his arrest and detention at the instance of Ilo (2nd respondent), after the grant of bail by Justice Jordan Adeyemi of the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta in charge no: FHC/AB/156C/2025, is unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional.

He said the act violated his right to dignity of human person, personal liberty, fair hearing and freedom of movement as prescribed in Sections 34, 35(1), 36 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Articles 4, 5, 6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right.

He is asking the court to declare that the EFCC’s action in rearresting him and detaining him over the same charge he is currently being tried in charge no: FHC/AB/156C/2025 before Justice Adeyemi “constitutes abuse of court process, violation of his human rights and is unconstitutional.”

Acheneje, therefore, is seeking an order directing the commission to release him immediately pending his trial.

“An order of injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd respondents, their agents, privies and whosoever acting on their behalf from further arresting or harassing the applicant in respect of the same matter.

“An award of one hundred million naira (N100,000,000:00) in favour of the applicant as general and exemplary damages against the respondents,” he prayed.

In the affidavit in support of the application deposed to by the applicant’s wife, Mrs Rhoda Acheneje, she averred that her husband, a mechanical engineer, is a former employee of Petrocam Blending Plant Ltd.

She said her husband was arrested on Oct. 19, 2025, and detained at the Eleweran Police Station, Abeokuta in Ogun and was subsequently charged and arraigned on Dec. 4, 2025, before the FHC sitting in Abeokuta in charge no: FHC/ABJ/ 156C/ 2025.

She said Acheneje was preferred with a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit money laundry, fraud and stealing.

Rhoda said her husband was admitted to bail on Dec. 24, 2025, pending trial by Justice Adeyemi.

“The trial judge adjourned the matter to the 16th day of February, 2026 for the prosecution to open her case against the applicant.

“That on the 16th day of February, 2026 when the matter came up for trial before Hon. Justice Jordan Abiodun Adeyemi, the prosecution did not file and serve proof of evidence on the defence counsel,” she said.

Against this development, Rhoda said the trial could not go on and the matter was adjourned until April 21.

She, however, alleged that shortly after the court session on Feb. 16, the EFCC and its agents from B.F.S Unit, acting on the instruction of Ilo, blocked the gate of the court premises in Abeokuta “and proceeded to intimidate, harass and arrest the applicant.”

She alleged that her husband was subsequently kept in EFCC’s “custody in Lagos State for the same offences for which he is currently standing trial before the Federal High Court, holden at Abeokuta.”

Rhoda said the law firm of R. O. Atabo, SAN & Co. had written a letter dated Feb. 25 to the anti-graft agency for the release of her husband from their custody but that the request had not been honoured.

She said Acheneje suffered health challenges, psychological trauma and hardship as a result of his continuous detention by the EFCC at the instance of Ilo.

Rhoda said unless restrained by the court, the commission would continue its unlawful acts against Acheneje. (NAN)