Facing days in detention and missing out on crucial school exams, Oluwateniola Omidiji, a 300-level Nursing Science student at Babcock University, was apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) due to her mother’s alleged debt.
The 19-year-old was taken into custody by EFCC operatives in Lagos on April 26, 2024, for a debt linked to her mother, Mrs. Omoniyi Omidiji, from a previous business transaction dated back to 2020.
In a lawsuit registered as FHC/L/CS/759/224 at the Federal High Court in Lagos, Oluwateniola claimed that she was unlawfully detained by EFCC officials on allegations made by Mr. Charles Nwoko regarding a financial dispute involving her mother.
Nwoko asserted that he had invested N100,000,000 in a business venture with Mrs. Omidiji, where Oluwateniola also played a role as a partner, while Mrs. Omidiji had gone abroad at that time.
During EFCC’s investigation at the Corporate Affairs Commission, it was revealed that Mrs. Omidiji had been associated with Elisto Global Services Limited, a company that received funds from Mr. Nwoko.
Meanwhile, Oluwateniola, who has been confined in an EFCC facility, appealed to the court, highlighting her prolonged detainment during her school’s examination period.
According to legal documents, EFCC argued that Oluwateniola, being listed as a director of Elisto by her mother, should be held accountable for the alleged misconduct in the business partnership with Mr. Nwoko.
Chijioke Emeka, SAN, representing Oluwateniola, is pushing for the protection of her fundamental rights, emphasizing her status as a minor at the time of the business agreement between her mother and Mr. Nwoko.
In the filed court papers, the lawyer seeks N10,000,000 in damages for Oluwateniola, stressing that her essential liberties including human dignity, personal freedom, fair trial, and mobility have been infringed upon.
Efforts to contact EFCC’s Media and Publicity head, Dele Oyewale, were unsuccessful, and a date for the upcoming court hearing is yet to be scheduled.