An aide to Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, Abiodun Agbele, yesterday sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before an Abuja High Court challenging the legality of his detention without trial since last month.

He is seeking N500 million in damages over his detention without trial since June 27. Agbele through his counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, told the court how he was hauled into the EFCC’s detention since June 27 in respect of an alleged N1.3 billion reportedly traced to the personal account of Governor Fayose.

The applicant is asking the court to award him N500 million as compensatory damages for his unlawful arrest and detention. The matter could not however be heard yesterday as the EFCC sought a short adjournment in order to file its defense.

The trial judge, Justice Kayode Adeniyi, however, adjourned till today for hearing. In a motion on notice filed along with his originating summons, Agbele asked the court to order his immediate release from the agency’s detention centre.

The suit is seeking for the enforcement of his fundamental rights to freedom of liberty, human dignity and the right to acquire and own property in line with provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

He claimed that unless and except the High Court came to his rescue, his rights to freedom of liberty would continue to be trampled upon by the anti-graft agency. Counsel to EFCC, Mr. Raymond Ezekiel, had earlier urged the judge to adjourn hearing of the suit till today to enable him file his counter affidavit