The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a N20 million fundamental rights enforcement suit filed against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) by Mrs. Christiana Dagogo-George.
The court ruled that Dagogo-George failed to establish that her right to personal liberty was breached by the ICPC during her arrest and detention between October 17 and 19, 2022.
Lawful invitation by an anti-corruption agency for investigative purposes does not amount to a violation of fundamental rights, the court held.
Dagogo-George had approached the court claiming her arrest and detention by the ICPC in connection with a police contract scandal infringed on her constitutional rights.
The ICPC had invited her for questioning over multiple training contracts awarded to companies linked to her by the Nigeria Police Trust Fund in June 2022.
According to the ICPC, Dagogo-George secured eight training contracts, each valued at over N36 million, through eight separate companies allegedly owned by her.
The commission found that although Over N100 million was paid for training in eight locations, but only three sessions were conducted, with the rest of the funds allegedly diverted for personal use.
Justice Kekemeke, in dismissing the suit, noted: “The documents attached to the Applicant’s Written Address are a mere surplusage,” Justice U.P. Kekemeke noted.
“They carry no legal weight before this Court and are hereby discountenanced,” the judge added.
“The applicant has not made out a case for the grant of the reliefs sought,” Justice Kekemeke concluded.