A group, the Importers Association of Nigeria has dragged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory over allegations of illegal invasion of its offices and the arrest of two of its staff at its Abuja Headquarters.
The association accused the commission of witch hunt and acting the script of illegal arms dealers whose activities its National Task Force to Combat Illegal Importation and Smuggling of Small Arms and Light Weapons have paralyzed.
IMAN is asking the court for the sum of N500 million as damages as exemplary damages for the violation of its fundamental human rights.
The association, through its counsel, Anthony Agbonlahor, is also seeking for a declaration that the invasion, ransacking and carting away of files, documents, computers and other properties from it’s headquarters situated at 2nd floor “B” Wing, City Plaza, Garki, Abuja on January 10, 2013 by the operatives of the EFCC, cited as the 1st respondent, led by Sulaiman Bakare, cited as the 2nd respondent, is a violation of its right to personal property and right to private life.
Other orders sought by the Association include an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents either by themselves, their agents, officers, detectives, investigating officers or by whatever name called from inviting, arresting, investigating members of the applicant in account of the recruitment or other wise interfering with the running of the internal affairs of the applicant, a duly registered association as the administration of the internal affairs of the Association by its members is not an economic crime; and an order of the court directing the respondents to return the files, documents, computers, flash drives, forms and every other property carted away by the respondents in the course of the raid of the applicant’s office on January 10, 2013. The raid being unwarranted ad a disruption of the legitimate activities of the applicant.”