The Abuja Division of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday issued an interim order restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), from arresting former defence minister Lawal Batagarawa over a land dispute.

Justice Yusuf Halilu, who issued the order, also barred the EFCC from inviting, harassing, intimidating or threatening Mr Batagarawa pending further proceedings.

The orders followed allegations that Mr Batagarawa had been subjected to undue harassment by the anti-graft agency.

Mr Halilu further granted an order for substituted service of the originating process and other legal documents on EFCC.

He added that other respondents be delivered the summons at the commission’s office located at Plot 301/302, Institution and Research Cadastral District, Jabi, Abuja.

The case, marked CV/4123/2024, lists the EFCC, Sanusi Mohammed (head, bank fraud section), Umar Imran (investigating police officer), Patrick Ineke, and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as the first to fifth respondents, respectively.

Counsel to Mr Batagarawa, Jerry Aondo (SAN), initiated the application, citing a series of actions by the EFCC that amounted to harassment and intimidation over a disputed plot of land.

In an affidavit dated September 20, 2024, Mr Batagarawa detailed various instances of harassment, including his detention at the EFCC’s office on August 19 and August 20, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 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 Mr Batagarawa, the EFCC’s actions were based on false allegations orchestrated by the fourth respondent, Patrick Ineke, and his legal representatives, who claim ownership of the disputed plot of land.

The claim was allegedly based on a supposed transaction between Mr Ineke, a deceased Allah, and one Wilson Osuagwu, who had served as Mr Batagarawa’s orderly in 2001 during his tenure as a minister.

In his affidavit, Mr Batagarawa categorically 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 (FCDA) in 2001.

In his affidavit, 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.

Meanwhile, the case is adjourned until October 31, 2024, for the hearing of the substantive motion on the enforcement of Mr Batagarawa’s fundamental human rights.

(NAN)