Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja on Thursday, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] and the police has the powers to invite former chairman of the anti-graft agency, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu for the purpose of investigation and he must honour such an invitation.

The presiding judge and Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Mustapha Abdullahi, further turned down his exparte application while directing him to come by way of an originating summons.
Meanwhile, the court has given him the go ahead to sue his constituency [the police] and the EFCC for violation of his rights. He said Ribadu can always return to court if arrested or detained illegally.

The actions of the embattled former chairman are contained in his exparte application filed before the court to stop the police and EFCC from inviting or arresting him pending the determination of the suit.
Ribadu is asking the court for “a declaration that EFCC, Police and Attorney General of the Federation [AGF] are not entitled in law to deprive him of his fundamental rights to liberty and freedom of movement or otherwise interfere in any manner whatsoever with his enjoyment of same as guaranteed by sections 35 [1] of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.

Besides, Ribadu asked the court for an order restraining the EFCC and the Police from arresting or detaining him just as he asked the court to hold that the above prayer when granted would serve as stay of all ‘actions and matters whatsoever arising from or relating to the invitation letter by EFCC which was communicated to him by the Police.

The former EFCC boss told the court that he never committed any criminal offense that warrants the exercise by the EFCC of any coercive power to compel him to visit their office
In the suit filed by Tayo Oyetibo [SAN], Ribadu , who anchored his suit on 12 grounds said he is supposed to know in advance the alleged fundamental issues that arose after he had left the office of EFCC to prepare in advance and to enable him decide whether or not to honour the invitation.
He also stated that instead of the EFCC to avail him with the necessary details, they have threatened to arrest and detain him for failure to attend their office.