The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of violating both the national and international law by its continuous detention of the former representative of Kaduna Central senatorial district in the 8th senate, Mr. Shehu Sani.
In a statement on Thursday, the group asked for the release of Sani who has been kept in the custody of the anti-graft agency since December 31, 2019 for allegedly extorting $20, 000 from a businessman, Mr. Sani Dauda, owner of ASD Motors.
Angered by the continuous incarceration of the ex-lawmaker, SERAP said: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should immediately release activist, Senator Shehu Sani detained on allegations of extortion or charge him with a recognizable criminal offence.
“By prolonging his detention without charge or trial, Mr Sani is being treated like a convicted criminal, in violation of national and international law.
“The continued detention of Mr Sani without charge is against the principle of being innocent until proven guilty.
“Nigeria is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 9 of the ICCPR states that “anyone who is arrested shall be brought promptly before a judge or other officer authorized by law to exercise judicial power.”
“There are similar provisions in the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended). The EFCC should promptly investigate any allegations against Mr Sani and release him on bail pending the conclusion of any such investigation.”
It added: “The right to personal liberty is one of the most central human rights as it is connected to the essentialist rudiments of an individual’s physical freedom. The right to liberty requires that the arrest or detention of an individual must be in accordance to the law.
“The right therefore protects the individual against the excesses of the government and its agents. The right to personal liberty is essentially a personal freedom in which no government can abridge. This right is juxtaposed with other human rights and can be formally traced back to the English Magna Carta of 1215.”
