May 9, 2018

Lawyers to Sen. Jonah Jang of Plateau have filed a suit before a Federal High Court, Jos, to challenge his continued detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

It would be recalled that the EFCC on Monday detained Jang over alleged embezzlement of N6 billion while serving as governor in Plateau.

Mr David Dusu, a member of the legal team, told newsmen in Jos on Wednesday, that a Fundamental Human Rights Enforcement suit had been filed at the Abuja division of the court over the breach of his rights.

“The law states that you cannot detain somebody for more than 24 hours within the week and 48 during weekends without charging the person to court.

“He has been detained for 72 hours without being charged to court or granted administrative bail.

“The applicant is entitled to immediate release from the respondent’s custody following the inability of the respondent to charge the applicant to court within prescribed period of one day.

“The detention of the applicant from 7th May, 2018 till date, a period exceeding one day, entitles the applicant to compensation and public apology in accordance with the section 35 (6) of the constitution,” he said.

The lawyer added the Jang was demanding N500 million as damages for his illegal detention.

The counsel to the applicant also said that they had filed an application at the Plateau State High Court, Jos, seeking the administrative bail of Sen. Jang.

He said that the EFCC claimed that it filed a suit against Jang at a Plateau State High Court in Jos, but the case had not been assigned to any judge.