A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Jabi, Abuja, presided over by Justice Yusuf Halilu, has issued an interim order restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting or detaining former Defence Minister, Mr. Lawal Batagarawa, over a contentious land dispute.
The court’s order, delivered on Tuesday, also prohibits the EFCC, its agents, or anyone acting on its behalf from harassing, intimidating, or threatening Batagarawa until further legal proceedings. This ruling follows allegations of undue harassment by the anti-graft agency.
Justice Halilu further directed that the EFCC and other respondents in the case be served legal documents through substituted service, allowing the legal process to proceed without direct personal service.
In his ruling, Justice Halilu addressed an ex-parte motion filed on September 19, 2024, by Batagarawa’s counsel, C.J. Aondo. The court granted the following orders:
An interim injunction restraining the EFCC and its officers, including the 2nd and 3rd respondents, from further inviting, harassing, or detaining Batagarawa in connection with a plot of land allocated to Lamda Beta Investment Limited. The land, located in Cadastral Zone B01, Gudu District, Abuja, is at the heart of the dispute.
The court approved the substituted service of the originating processes and other legal documents on the EFCC at its Jabi office.
Justice Halilu adjourned the substantive motion for the enforcement of Batagarawa’s fundamental human rights to October 31, 2024, for further consideration.
In an affidavit filed on September 20, 2024, Batagarawa recounted multiple instances of alleged harassment by the EFCC, including his detention at the commission’s office from August 19 to 20, 2024. He was held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. before being released on administrative bail. The former minister also alleged that he had been subjected to repeated summons and harassing phone calls from EFCC agents.
Batagarawa accused the 4th respondent, Patrick Ineke, of orchestrating false allegations against him. According to the former minister, Ineke, along with his legal representatives, falsely claimed ownership of the disputed land. This claim, Batagarawa stated, was based on an alleged transaction involving a deceased woman, Mrs. Alan, and Wilson Osuagwu, Batagarawa’s former orderly during his tenure as Defence Minister in 2001.
In his affidavit, Batagarawa refuted these claims, maintaining that the land was allocated to his company, Lamda Beta Investment Limited, by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) in 2001. He provided documentation showing payments totaling ₦3,050,683.33 made through Intercity Bank PLC on June 16, 2001, for the right of occupancy and associated fees.
