N8.7bn Kaduna contract: Court restrains security agencies from arresting Pastor Adeboye’s son, others
Adeolu Adeboye
A Federal High Court, Lagos, on Friday, restrained all security agencies in Nigeria, from inviting, interrogating and arresting, Adeolu Adeboye, the son of General overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and others over alleged N8.7 billion contract scam.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Inspector General of Police, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Kaduna State Government, and Kaduna State House of Assembly are the 1st to 6th Respondents, respectively.
The court debarred the Inspector-General Of Police (IGP); Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG); Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC), the State Security Service (SSS) and EFCC from inviting, interrogating or arresting him.
Justice Alexander Owoeye, the trial judge, also ordered all financial institutions in the country to allow Adeolu and others who are directors of Ronchess Global Resources unfettered access to their bank accounts.
Justice Owoeye made the orders on Friday while delivering judgment in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by all the directors of the company in a suit marked FHC/L/CS/1211/2024.
Other directors of the company in the suit are Tafida Yusuf; Adebosin Temitope; Josephine Uruevo; Leon Kelly; Adeboye Adeolu; Okafor Akalaka; Waziri Habibah Adamu; Captain Niyi Ogunowo; Ukuevo Jackson and Adeboye Adebimpe.
In the judgment, the judge further declared that “the invitation of the applicants by the respondents vide the letter dated 27th day of June, 2024, with Ref No: CR:3000/EFCC/HQ/SDC3/DAK/VOL.4/123, at the instance, behest and/or instigation of the 5th and 6th Respondents, in respect of the contracts awarded to Ronchess Global Resources Plc. which are presently subject of a pending civil action filed at the Kaduna State High Court constituted as Suit No; KDH/KAD/594/2024: Ronchess Global Resources Plc vs Kaduna State Government, Kaduna State House of Assembly & 2 ors, amounts to a flagrant violation of the Applicants’ fundamental rights guaranteed under sections 34, 35, 36 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Articles 4, 5, 6, 7 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, CAP 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990 and is therefore illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.
“A declaration that the oral invitation of the applicants by the 2nd – 4th respondent, and 8th Respondent at the instance, behest and/or instigation of the 5th and 6th Respondents, in respect of the civil contracts awarded to Ronchess Global Resources Plc. which are presently subject of a pending civil action filed at the Kaduna State High Court constituted as Suit No: KDH/KAD/594/2024: Ronchess Global Resources Pic vs. Kaduna State Government, Kaduna State House of Assembly & 2 ors, amounts to a flagrant violation of the Applicant’s fundamental rights guaranteed under sections 34, 35, 36 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Articles 4, 5, 6, 7 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, CAP 10, Laws of the Federation of the 1990 and is therefore illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.”
Adeolu Adeboye, has in August 2024, sued the Kaduna State Government, the State House of Assembly and security agencies to prevent his arrest and detention over an alleged abandoned road contract worth N8.7 billion, which was secured under former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s administration.
Following the Kaduna State Government and House of Assembly’s probe into the alleged fraud, the cleric’s son filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
He sought an injunction restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Kaduna State Government, and the House of Assembly from arresting or detaining him over the abandoned project.
