A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Jabi has dismissed a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Joel Adoga against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Adoga, who is currently facing fraud-related charges alongside former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai before the Federal High Court in Kaduna, had accused the anti-corruption agency of violating his rights during its investigation.
In his suit, Adoga alleged that he was denied access to his family and legal representatives and was compelled to make statements while in custody. He sought several reliefs, including declarations that his rights had been breached, an order of habeas corpus, damages, and injunctions preventing the ICPC from further investigating, detaining or prosecuting him over the matter.
Responding to the claims, the ICPC denied allegations of unlawful arrest, detention, intimidation or inhuman treatment. The Commission stated that Adoga was lawfully invited for questioning following petitions and suspicions relating to alleged corrupt practices and financial transactions connected to the diversion of Kaduna State funds.
According to the anti-corruption agency, Adoga was granted administrative bail during investigations, while any subsequent detention was based on a valid court remand order. It further noted that he was later arraigned before the Federal High Court in Kaduna and granted bail, adding that any continued detention resulted from his inability to meet the court-imposed bail conditions.
The Commission also maintained that Adoga had unrestricted access to his lawyers and family members throughout the investigation, while all statements made were voluntary and taken in the presence of his legal counsel.
Adoga and former Governor Nasir El-Rufai are currently facing a 10-count charge involving allegations of money laundering and suspicious financial transactions. The case includes claims that several sums of money in United States dollars, allegedly linked to unlawful activities, were paid into accounts associated with the former governor between 2016 and 2023.
Delivering judgment, Justice M.S. Idris held that Adoga failed to establish any violation of his fundamental rights and dismissed the suit in its entirety. The court affirmed that the actions taken by the ICPC were lawful and within its statutory powers.
The ICPC subsequently reiterated its commitment to due process, the rule of law and the protection of constitutional rights while carrying out its anti-corruption responsibilities.
