Ubani Collapses In EFCC Custody, Rushed To Hospital

The former second Vice-President of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Barrister Monday Ubani, was on Tuesday rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Abuja after he collapsed in the detention facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Ubani and Christopher  Enai, a former senator representing Bayelsa State were detained by the EFCC on March 19 for failing to produce the chairman of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, Ngozi Olejeme, who they stood for as sureties.

Olejeme is facing a N6.4 billion fraud allegedly perpetrated while she was chairman of NSITF.

A member of Ubani’s family told this medium that he (Ubani) collapsed in the EFCC detention facility Tuesday morning after suffering severe dehydration and high blood pressure.

The family member, who did not want to be disclosed, decried the continued detention of Ubani by the EFCC despite a Federal High Court order instructing that he should either be released on bail or be charged to court saying that for the timely intervention of some persons, Ubani would have died.

“Ubani would have died today if some persons had not intervened and rushed him to the hospital after he collapsed in EFCC cell. It is very disheartening that  the EFCC has chosen to continue to detain him despite a court order that instructed that he be released or be charged to court. We are begging well meaning Nigerians to appeal to the EFCC chairman to comply with court order and release Ubani,” he said.

In a statement he issued after his arrest, Ubani had maintained his innocence over the disappearance of Olejeme stating that he lost contact with her after EFCC official raided her home in Abuja.

Meanwhile the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to call the EFCC to order and ensure that the commission obeys court order regarding Ubani’s detention.

 In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Kunle Edun, the body condemned the continued detention of Ubani despite a valid court which instructed that he should either by charged to court or be released on bail.

The statement read: “Mr. Ubani still remains in the unlawful custody of the EFCC for more than three weeks, which is a gross violation of his constitutional rights to personal liberty.

 “The agency’s penchant for disobedience to orders of court is an ominous threat to rule of law and impacts negatively on Nigeria’s investment environment.

“We therefore, demands that the EFCC immediately complies with the subsisting order of the Federal High Court by releasing Monday Ubani or charge him to court, if there is any reasonable cause to so do.

“We  also urges the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari to closely monitor the activities of security agencies, like EFCC and DSS, and ensure that they obey the fundamental rights of Nigerians and respect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the performance of their functions.”