Lawyers sue EFCC over continued detention of Jang as Plateau PDP seeks ‘immediate release’

Lawyers to Senator Jonah Jang of Plateau State have filed a suit before a Federal High Court, Jos, to challenge his continued detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
It would be recalled that the EFCC on Monday detained Jang over alleged embezzlement of N6 billion while serving as governor in the North-Central state.
Mr David Dusu, a member of the legal team, told newsmen in Jos on Wednesday, that a Fundamental Human Rights Enforcement suit had been filed at the Abuja division of the court over the breach of his rights.
“The law states that you cannot detain somebody for more than 24 hours within the week and 48 during weekends without charging the person to court.
“He has been detained for 72 hours without being charged to court or granted administrative bail.
“The applicant is entitled to immediate release from the respondent’s custody following the inability of the respondent to charge the applicant to court within prescribed period of one day.
“The detention of the applicant from 7th May, 2018 till date, a period exceeding one day, entitles the applicant to compensation and public apology in accordance with the section 35 (6) of the constitution,” he said.
The lawyer added the Jang was demanding N500 million as damages for his illegal detention.
The counsel to the applicant also said that they had filed an application at the Plateau State High Court, Jos, seeking the administrative bail of Sen. Jang.
He said that the EFCC claimed that it filed a suit against Jang at a Plateau State High Court in Jos, but the case had not been assigned to any judge.
Meanwhile, the Plateau chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the “immediate release” of Jang from EFCC custody.
Jang, who represents Plateau North in the senate, was invited by the EFCC on Monday over alleged misappropriation of some monies when he governed the north-central state between 2007 and 2015.
The senator had, since then, been in the custody of the anti-graft agency.
Chief Damishi Sango, the PDP Chairman in Plateau State, who addressed a press conference on Jang’s detention, described it as “unconstitutional”.
Sango argued that the refusal of the commission to grant bail to the elder statesman was “a gross violation of his fundamental human rights”.
“We consider the continued detention of Sen. Jang by the EFCC as unconstitutional, unlawful and gross violation of his fundamental human rights.
“It is very shocking and unbelievable that a sitting senator and elder statesman is being denied bail, access to his lawyers, family and even his medication. This is quite unfortunate
“We have appealed to party supporters and family members to remain calm and shall continue to ensure that they remain so, but we want the EFCC to, as a matter of urgency, release Sen Jang,” Sango stated.
The chairman alleged that Jang’s continued detention was “part of an orchestrated plan to clamp down on the opposition”, saying that Jang was entitled to bail on self recognition since he was a serving senator.
“Jang is a former governor and a serving senator; there is no way he will jump bail,” he said.
Sango, however, said that the PDP would continue to serve as a viable opposition and ensure a voice for the voiceless “no matter what happens”.