Former attorney-general of the federation,
Mohammed Adoke, has filed a human rights
complaint against the federal government at
the United Nations Human Rights
Committee.
He also named the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the complaint,
accusing the agency “of unmitigated acts of
persecution, intimidation, harassment,
threat of deprivation right to life, unlawful
interference with right to family life and
livelihood”.
Femi Oboro, his solicitor, said the complaint
became necessary in view of the constant
harassment, intimidation and persecution
that Adoke has endured in the hands of the
federal government.
Oboro said since his client left office as
attorney-general of federation, he has been
the subject of sustained and malicious
media attack from the EFCC.
He reiterated that the EFCC “is bent on
persecuting and humiliating him in order to
satisfy the whims and caprices of some
powerful families and political associates of
the present administration”.
“I have today 20th July 2017 filed a
complaint on behalf of my client Mr
Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, former
attorney-general of the federation and
minister of justice, federal republic of
Nigeria, against the federal government of
Nigeria and the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC),” it read.
“However, since leaving office, he has been
the subject of sustained and malicious
media attack from the EFCC and its cohorts
with the aim of bringing him to public
odium.
“These efforts have culminated in the filing
of phantom criminal charges against him,
destruction and unwarranted searches on
his residences as well as that of his siblings,
persecution, threat to his life, unlawful
harassment and intimidation.
“The complaint will afford the UNHRC the
opportunity to appraise Nigeria’s criminal
justice system, the operational modalities of
law enforcement agencies such as the EFCC,
the constitutional mandate of the office of
the attorney-general of the federation and
minister of justice, on whether such
agencies and persons are conducting their
operations in accordance with human right
standards and norms applicable to civilised
democratic societies and/or they can be
allowed to ride rough shod over the rights
and liberties of citizens under the guise of
fighting corruption.
“We expect the UNHRC to expeditiously
consider the complaint and make its ruling
and recommendations public in order to
end my clients persecution and once more
provide an enabling environment for Mr.
Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN to enjoy his
family, return to the practice of his
profession and assume his roles as the
bread winner for his immediate and
extended family.”
Adoke is accused of money laundering and
misleading the federal government in the
OPL 245 deal involving Malabu Oil, Shell and
ENI, but he has denied the allegations.
