DEFAMATION: Ilorin Based Lawyer Insists EFCC Must Tenders Public Apology To Him

An Ilorin-based legal practitioner, Sulyman Abaya Esq insisted
that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must
tender a public apology to him for portraying him as a criminal in
a defamatory mugshot and Press Release.

The anti-corruption agency said that it would not apologise for
the mugshot and press statement on Mr Abaya and two others, which
it described as part of its standard practice.

The lawyer stated categorically that contrary to the allegations
leveled against him by the anti-graft agency, he did not conspire
with anybody, impersonate anyone or forge any document in order to
defraud one Pastor Adedoyin of his property at any point in
time.

In his statement obtained by PRNigeria, the lawyer added that
through his life with about 20 years in the legal practice, he had
always sought for contentment, integrity, uprightness, good name
and godliness.

He said: “For those who know my personality traits, I had never
craved for illegitimate wealth or unearned income. I have never
been involved in any financial crime that may tarnish my highly
cherished family name which unquestionable integrity among my
professional colleagues.”

The lawyer said he was deeply pained when he EFCC syndicated his
mugshot with spurious allegations of conspiracy, forgery and
obtaining money by false pretence when he was never found guilty or
convicted by any court of law.

Narrating his ordeal, Mr Abaya stated that: “Sometimes in 2013,
I was approached and briefed by a colleague, Mr. R.O. Salman, Esq.
to take over the defence of a civil case in Suit No: KWS/112/2010
filed by Alhaji Abdullahi Muhydeen Olojuku through his lawyer, Dr.
D. A. Ariyoosu, Esq. against Engr. Tunji Adedoyin challenging him
for the unlawful occupation of his land. The case was before Hon.
Justice Haleemat Saleeman of High Court of Kwara State.

“Sequel to the brief of R. O. Salman, Esq. whom I verily
believed had the brief of Engr. Adedoyin, I made some appearances
in the case in the best interest of the Defendant (Engr. Adedoyin)
and after a while, I was informed that parties had agreed to settle
the matter out of court.

“Based on this information, I withdrew from the case and handed
over the case file back to R. O. Salman, Esq. In fact, I did not
partake in the settlement proceeding and I knew nothing about how
the case was eventually settled. Surprisingly, on 27/8/2019 and
without prior invitation, I was arrested by the officers of
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ilorin Zonal
Office at the High Court premises, Ilorin and subsequently detained
till the following day in their office.

“While at the EFCC custody, I clearly stated my story in
connection with the case as narrated above but despite my
explanations and notwithstanding that I was not confronted with any
document I allegedly forged, or any allegation that I collected any
amount of money from anybody or received any amount of money on
behalf of anybody in connection with the case, the officers of EFCC
threatened and forced me against my will to carry placard and took
my photograph which they later uploaded on the internet.

“The whole world has undoubtedly seen me carrying a placard.
Please retake a deep look at that picture and you will see that it
was hesitantly carried with one hand. For more than one hour, I
resisted and protested the carrying of the placard but EFCC called
on two of her mobile policemen who pointed gun at me and coerced me
to carry it. As soon as the picture was taken, EFCC released me
together with my car.”

Mr Abaya, further stated that last Friday, which was August 30,
the officers and operatives of EFCC involved in dehumanizing him
called to apologize for disparaging his personality, but he,
however, insisted that they must apologise publicly.

“I am convinced that since my release, the picture of my
innocence has become clearer to the EFCC but the damage done me and
my reputation by the actions of the overzealous officers of EFCC
are incalculable, immeasurable and ought to be adequately
redressed,” he added.

Responding to the petition, the spokesperson of the EFCC, Wilson
Uwujaren, in a press statement said that EFCC had no reason to
threaten or apologise to Mr Abaya, over its investigation on N20
million property fraud case by the Ilorin Zonal office of the
Commission.

Mr Abaya was arrested along with two other lawyers, Salman Rafiu
and Saka Hammed, for alleged illegal acquisition and sale of a
property belonging to Mr Adetunji Adedoyin, valued at about N20
million (Twenty Million Naira).

The spokesperson of EFCC said: “In the first place, there is no
reason for anyone to apologize to Abaya who remains a suspect under
investigation. Apparently, Abaya has mistaken or deliberately wants
to construe the administrative bail offered him by the Commission
as exoneration of criminal complicity in the alleged fraud. The
facts of the case suggest otherwise. He was merely offered bail to
preserve his rights pending the conclusion of investigation.

“Without prejudice to the facts of the case, it is puzzling that
a lawyer of Abaya’s standing would take a brief from third parties
on behalf of a client who is not incapacitated and that lives in
the same city with him.

“For the record, it is not the practice of the EFCC to force
suspects to be profiled. Taking mugshot of suspects of crime is
standard procedure in criminal investigation. It beats the
imagination why Abaya would want to be treated differently,” he
concluded.