Illegal arrest, detention: Court grants Secondus N10m compensation

Justice James Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja yesterday declared as unlawful, the arrest and detention of former Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Uche Secondus.
‎
The court also awarded N10million damages against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Secondus had approached the court to enforce his fundamental human rights, which he claimed, was infringed upon by the EFCC.

In the motion before the court, he asked Justice Tsoho to declare his arrest and detention as illegal.

He also asked the court to award damages against the anti-graft body.

In his ruling, the Judge granted the first prayer of the applicant and awarded damages as prayed.

He said: “The first prayer of the Applicant is hereby granted and the sum ‎of N10 million damages hereby awarded against the Respondent.”

The anti-graft had about a month ago arrested Secondus over alleged corrupt practices of illegally receiving vehicles on behalf of his party.

The EFCC had also asked him to return the vehicles, but his party, through its National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon, alleged that its officers were unfairly treated.