Group calls for immediate release of Bar Ubani Monday Onyekachi

BY: Ikenna Oluka

National Coalition of NGOS Against Corruption (NCNAC) has called for the immediate release of Bar Ubani Monday Onyekachi the former Vice President of Nigerian Bar Association NBA.

According to a statement endorsed by Comrade Harris Chuma , the Convener,

Bar Ubani is a brave, kind, and principled person who has suffered immensely at the hands of the EFCC in the past three weeks simply for speaking out and standing up for his client Dr. mrs Olejeme whose alleged disappearance while on bail has nothing to do with Mr Ubani. 

“It would be recalled that Dr Mrs Olejeme was declared wanted since last year on a civil related matter. 

“She returned to Nigeria in December and was consequently granted bail early January.  EFCC is currently demanding that her Lawyer, Mr Ubani should provide Dr Mrs Olejeme who allegedly disappeared after EFCC invasion of her home.

“It would be recalled that Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal High Court had in a ruling on March 26, 2019 granted an ex-parte motion filed by Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN directing the EFCC to charge former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Vice President, Mr. Monday Ubani and his co-applicant to court “on or before Friday, 28/3/2019.”

“The court in the alternative ordered that “If the Applicants are not charged to court on or before 28/3/2019, EFCC is directed to release them on bail” upon fulfillment of some listed conditions.

“The EFCC should not continue to disobey this order of the court. It has neither charged the former NBA Vice President to court nor granted him any administrative bail. 

“The EFCC continued detention of Mr. Ubani violates Section 35 (4) of the 1999 Constitution which provides that “Any person who is arrested or detained in accordance with subsection (1) (c) of this section shall be brought before a court of law within a reasonable time.” The maximum detention period is 48 hours, except extended by a competent court. Mr. Ubani has been in EFCC custody for about three weeks.

“We unequivocally condemn the decision to detain him longer than necessary despite the subsisting order of the Federal High Court”, the statement reads.