Date: 2019-09-03

The Nigerian Bar Association has threatened to sue the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the parade of one of its members, Sulaiman Abaya, on what it calls 'false accusation' of illegal sale of land.

But the EFCC says all its actions are within the law.

Addressing journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, the chairman the Nigeria Bar Association, Ilorin branch Muhammed Akanbi accused the Ilorin zonal office of the EFCC of wrongfully parading one Sulaiman Abaya, a member of the bar.

While a suspect is presumed innocent until he is tried in a court of law, Abaya's picture with his alleged offence was published online by the EFCC, a situation which the NBA sees as adjudging the suspect guilty even without trial.

He noted that the act of parading suspects before trial has been responsible for failed court cases of the anti-corruption agency.

The man at the centre of the crisis, Sulyman Abaya, explained how he was arrested without invitation and forced to display a placard with two mobile policemen pointing guns at him.

Reacting to the allegation, the head, Ilorin zonal office of the EFCC, Isyaku Sharu said the commission acted within the law

Abaya was arrested last week by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged illegal sale of land.