In an affidavit sworn to by brothers of Dr. Akpolobokemi for emotional and psychological damages, they are asking the court for compensation of N100m. In court today, Joseph Nwobike (SAN) who announced his appearance for the applicants, told the court that the EFCC might be unaware that the case had been transferred from Justice Ofili Ajumogbobia’s court, where it was pending, to the present court being presided over by Justice Saliu Saidu. He indicated he had not received any process from EFCC, and therefore asked for an adjournment of hearing. On November 19 last year when the case was first mentioned before Justice Rita Ofili Ajumogobia, she recused herself from the case for what she called “personal reasons”, saying it would be returned to the Chief Judge for re-assigment. In the said fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed before the court, the co-applicants alongside Mrs Akpobolokemi are Clement Akpobolokemi, Stephen Akpobolokemi, Julius Akpobolokemi and Victor Akpobolokemi, biological brothers of the former NIMASA boss. In an affidavit filed before the court by Dr Nwobike on behalf of Stephen, the deponent averred that, on 31st July 2015, armed operatives of the EFCC, numbering about 25, stormed the residence of the former NIMASA boss at Banana Island in Lagos State in connection with the agency’s investigations into the stewardship of Dr. Akpobolokemi at NIMASA. Stephen averred further that without any search warrant, the EFCC operatives harassed them and coerced Mrs. Akpobolokemi to write an incriminating statement against her husband. He stated that without a court order, the EFCC blocked the woman’s account at United Bank For Africa Plc, and that she was invited by the agency to report at their office on the 5th of November 2015 despite never having been on the staff of NIMASA and never impeding the investigation of her husband. The four brothers also alleged that they have been under constant threats of arrest and detention by EFCC on the account of been the brothers of Dr. Akpobolokemi, and that Julius’ bank accounts with Ecobank Plc and Diamond bank Plc have been frozen, as has Victor’s account with First bank of Nigeria. Stephen also contended that by the actions of the anti-graft agency, their fundamental right to liberty has been breached. Consequently, the applicants are asking for damages in the sum of N100Million against the EFCC for the irreparable emotional and psychological damages jointly and severally they have suffered. They are also urging the court to declare that the harassment and intimidation and the threat of their arrest and detention on account of their affinity with Dr. Akpolokemi are unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful. They are also urging the court to declare the freezing of their accounts to be illegal and to unfreeze them. Justice Saidu adjourned the matter to February 4.]]>