Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has initiated legal proceedings to prevent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting, detaining, or prosecuting him following the conclusion of his term in 2027.
Sanwo-Olu, currently serving his second term under the All Progressives Congress (APC), seeks to safeguard against potential post-tenure investigations.
This legal move is viewed as a proactive measure as he prepares for life beyond his tenure as governor of Nigeria’s economic capital.
Sanwo-Olu’s lawyer, Darlington Ozurumba, filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, citing threats from the EFCC.
The governor is seeking a declaration that he is entitled to his rights to private and family life, as well as the right to acquire and manage properties, including bank accounts, as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution. He argues that the EFCC’s threat to investigate, arrest, and detain him during his tenure is illegal and unconstitutional.
Sanwo-Olu also alleges that the EFCC’s actions are motivated by false and politically driven corruption allegations, constituting an abuse of executive powers and public office. He seeks an order restraining the EFCC from harassing, intimidating, or prosecuting him in connection with his tenure as governor.