Colonel Nicholas Ashinze Finally Relesaed From EFCC/Army Gulag

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released Colonel Nicholas Ashinze who has been in custody gulag since December 23, 2015.

He was released on Wednesday from the Mogadishu Military Cantonment by the military authorities.

This is sequel to an earlier order made by the Hon. Justice Y. Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court N0.32, sitting at Jabi, Abuja, in a fundamental rights case argued by Col Ashinze’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN.

It will be recalled that the Hon. Justice Halilu, had in his ruling while ordering the unconditional release of Col. Nicholas Ashinze with his confiscated properties, from the custody of the EFCC/Military authorities for nearly three months, lambasted the EFCC and the Army for failing to obey constitutional provisions dealing with the rights and liberties of a serving Colonel alleged to have committed an offence.

The judge had stated the motto of the EFCC which states that “Nobody is above the Law” also applies to all investigating authorities, including EFCC, but which has been behaving as if it is above the law.

He termed the action of EFCC and the Army as akin to what obtains in an uncivilized society, still living under military dictatorship. He also described the EFCC and Army as behaving like illiterates.

“This judgment and the subsequent release from custody today of Colonel Ashinze, are no doubt a great triumph for the rule of law, re-establishment of the sanctity and independence of the Judiciary, and a clarion call on all investigating agencies to act within the confines of the rule of law and not to see themselves as maximum dictators and tyrants, who are above the law, in their perceived fight against corruption.

“The unusual courage and daring bravado of Justice Halilu under the present clime of simulated fear and barefaced intimidation of the Judiciary by the Executive, are to be applauded as signposting a ray of hope in the wilderness of jungle justice and blatant violations of the cherished rights, freedoms and liberties of Nigerian citizens” Chief Ozekhome said.

Colonel Nicholas Ashinze Finally Relesaed From EFCC/Army Gulag