Court restrains EFCC from arresting ex-defence minister Batagarawa

Justice Yusuf Halilu, of a Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Jabi, Abuja, on Tuesday, has issued an interim order against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, restraining them from arresting or detaining a former Minister of Defence, Mr Lawal Batagarawa, over a land dispute matter.

The court also restrained the commission and its agents, privies, or anyone acting on their behalf, from inviting, harassing, intimidating, or otherwise threatening Batagarawa pending further proceedings.

The order was made following allegations that Batagarawa had been subjected to undue harassment by the anti-graft agency.

Justice Halilu also ordered substituted service of the originating process and other legal documents on the EFCC and other respondents in the suit.
He said, “Upon hearing motion, ex-parte M/12520/2025, filed on the 19th September 2024 and upon listening to C. J. Aondo, counsel to the applicant praying this court for the following:-

“An Order of Interim Injunction restraining the 1st Respondent, its privies, officers (including the 2nd and 3rd respondent) agents or anybody deriving authority through the respondents from further inviting, harassing, embarrassing, humiliating, arresting or detaining, intimidating and threatening the Applicant in connection with the Plot of land allocated in the name of LAMDA’ BETA INVESTMENT LTD. and situate at 1249 Cadastral Zone BOI, Gudu District Abuja pending the hearing and determination of the Applicant’s Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction.

“An Order granting the substituted service of the Originating Process and other processes in this suit on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Respondents by wit: service on the 1st Respondent (EFCC) whose address is at Plot 301/302, Institution and Research Cadastral District, Jabi, Abuja.”
He added, “And for such further or other Order(s) as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this application. It is hereby ordered -as follows

“An Order of Interim Injunction restraining the 1st Respondent, its privies, officers (including the 2nd and 3rd Respondents), agents or anybody deriving authority through the respondents from further inviting, harassing, embarrassing, humiliating, arresting or detaining, intimidating and threatening the Applicant in connection with the Plot of land allocated in the name of LAMDA BETA INVESTMENT LTD. and situate at 1249 Cadastral Zone B01, Gudu District Abuja pending the hearing _ and determination of the Applicant’s ~~ Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction is hereby granted.
“Leave is hereby granted to the Applicant to serve the Originating Process and other Processes in this suit on the 2nd 3rd and 4th Respondents by substituted means to wit: by service on the 1st Respondent (EFCC) whose address is at Plot 301/302, Institution and Research Cadastral District, Jabi — Abuja.

“Substantive Motion for Enforcement of Fundamental Human Right is hereby adjourned to the 31st October 2024 for consideration of the Originating Motion”.

Meanwhile, In an affidavit dated September 20, 2024, the applicant details various instances of harassment, including his detention at the EFCC’s office on August 19 and 20, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., before being released on administrative bail.

He also alleged that he had been subjected to repeated summons and harassing phone calls from EFCC agents.

According to Batagarawa, the EFCC’s actions were based on false allegations orchestrated by the 4th respondent, Patrick Ineke, and his legal representatives, who claimed ownership of the disputed plot of land.
The claim was allegedly based on a supposed transaction between Ineke, a deceased Mrs. Allah, and one Wilson Osuagwu, who had served as Batagarawa’s orderly in 2001 during his tenure as Minister of Defence.

In his affidavit, Batagarawa refuted these claims, stating that the land in question had been allocated to his company, Lamda Beta Investment Limited, by the Federal Capital Development Authority in 2001.

He provided evidence of payments made for the right of occupancy and other fees, amounting to N3,050,683.33, through Intercity Bank PLC on June 16, 2001