In a bold move against injustice, Miss Oluwateniola Omidiji, a 19-year-old 300-level nursing student of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, has taken legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for her wrongful detention.
Initiating a fundamental rights case, marked FHC/L/CS/759/224, at the Federal High Court in Lagos, Miss Omidiji asserts that her detention was unjustifiable.
She was forcibly taken from her university premises during an examination on April 26, 2024, by EFCC personnel from its Lagos Zonal Command, allegedly due to a debt her mother, Mrs. Omoniyi Omidiji, was accused of owing.
At the tender age of 16, Miss Omidiji, a minor at the time, was unaware of any dealings between her mother and Mr. Charles Nwoko, who claimed Mrs. Omidiji owed him N100 million from a business transaction.
She strongly contends that the matter at hand is a civil dispute and argues vehemently against being held accountable for her mother’s alleged actions.
Represented by her legal counsel, Chijioke Emeka (SAN) of Auxano Law, Miss Omidiji asserts her rights to human dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, and freedom of movement, which were violated during her ordeal. She seeks not only justice but also compensation in the form of N10,000,000 for the trauma and infringement upon her fundamental rights.
While a date for the hearing is yet to be set by the court, Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos has already ordered Miss Omidiji’s release following an application for the enforcement of her fundamental human rights. Despite spending 11 days in EFCC custody, Miss Omidiji’s fight for justice continues undeterred.