Anyim granted bail but not released –EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it has granted
an administrative bail to a former Secretary to the Government of
the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, but has not yet released him
because he has failed to meet his bail conditions.

However, Anyim’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), said the
former SGF was being forced to sign property-stripping documents
and was still being detained despite meeting the bail
conditions.

The Spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, during an
interview with our correspondent on Friday, said, “He (Anyim) has
been granted bail since Tuesday but he has not met all his bail
conditions. When he meets the conditions, he will be released.”

However, Ozekhome (SAN), berated the EFCC for refusing to
release his client despite meeting all his bail conditions.

The senior advocate said the former SGF had also handed his
passport over to the anti-graft agency but the agency had refused
to release him.

He further revealed that Anyim, who is a former Senate
President, had been forced to relinquish some of his properties. In
a statement on Friday, Ozekhome said, “The truth is that Anyim is
still held in the EFCC custody till this minute, in spite of
fulfilling all administrative bail conditions laid out for him,
including depositing his passport and being compelled, under duress
and undue influence, to sign all manners of self-incriminating and
property-stripping documents against his will.

“In spite of these and the clear provisions of sections 35 and
36 of the Nigerian Constitution and the Administration of Criminal
Justice Act, the EFCC has bluntly refused to release Anyim to go
and attend to his very poor health over which he was receiving
treatment before he was forcibly taken away from his home.

“This is calling upon the Attorney-General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice to prevail on the EFCC (and all law enforcement
agencies), to respect the rule of law and the constitution they
have sworn to protect and defend by promptly ordering Anyim’s
release forthwith, since no charges have been preferred against him
and since he has fulfilled all administrative bail conditions.”

Anyim was arrested about nine days ago for allegedly collecting
N520m from a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki
(retd.), on the eve of the 2015 presidential election. He also
allegedly awarded contracts worth N13bn to companies he had
interests in.

Apart from allegedly receiving funds from Dasuki, the former SGF
was accused of false assets declaration and using proxies and
companies in which he had interest to corner contracts from the
ecological fund.

The source said Anyim allegedly awarded contracts to some
companies linked to him through which ecological funds were
diverted.

The companies include Foundation Years Limited, Precious
Integrated, Precious Petroleum, Mak & Mak, Chap Construction,
Eldyke Engineering, Pryke Limited, Chipa Nigeria Limited, Prima A11
Limited, Pima International, Chanto Engineering, Ishiagu
Microfinance Bank, Mulak Ventures, Vitro Engineering and Tip Top
Nigeria.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it has granted
an administrative bail to a former Secretary to the Government of
the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, but has not yet released him
because he has failed to meet his bail conditions.

However, Anyim’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), said the
former SGF was being forced to sign property-stripping documents
and was still being detained despite meeting the bail
conditions.

The Spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, during an
interview with our correspondent on Friday, said, “He (Anyim) has
been granted bail since Tuesday but he has not met all his bail
conditions. When he meets the conditions, he will be released.”

However, Ozekhome (SAN), berated the EFCC for refusing to
release his client despite meeting all his bail conditions.

The senior advocate said the former SGF had also handed his
passport over to the anti-graft agency but the agency had refused
to release him.

He further revealed that Anyim, who is a former Senate
President, had been forced to relinquish some of his properties. In
a statement on Friday, Ozekhome said, “The truth is that Anyim is
still held in the EFCC custody till this minute, in spite of
fulfilling all administrative bail conditions laid out for him,
including depositing his passport and being compelled, under duress
and undue influence, to sign all manners of self-incriminating and
property-stripping documents against his will.

“In spite of these and the clear provisions of sections 35 and
36 of the Nigerian Constitution and the Administration of Criminal
Justice Act, the EFCC has bluntly refused to release Anyim to go
and attend to his very poor health over which he was receiving
treatment before he was forcibly taken away from his home.

“This is calling upon the Attorney-General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice to prevail on the EFCC (and all law enforcement
agencies), to respect the rule of law and the constitution they
have sworn to protect and defend by promptly ordering Anyim’s
release forthwith, since no charges have been preferred against him
and since he has fulfilled all administrative bail conditions.”

Anyim was arrested about nine days ago for allegedly collecting
N520m from a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki
(retd.), on the eve of the 2015 presidential election. He also
allegedly awarded contracts worth N13bn to companies he had
interests in.

Apart from allegedly receiving funds from Dasuki, the former SGF
was accused of false assets declaration and using proxies and
companies in which he had interest to corner contracts from the
ecological fund.

The source said Anyim allegedly awarded contracts to some
companies linked to him through which ecological funds were
diverted.

The companies include Foundation Years Limited, Precious
Integrated, Precious Petroleum, Mak & Mak, Chap Construction,
Eldyke Engineering, Pryke Limited, Chipa Nigeria Limited, Prima A11
Limited, Pima International, Chanto Engineering, Ishiagu
Microfinance Bank, Mulak Ventures, Vitro Engineering and Tip Top
Nigeria.