Inibehe Effiong, a lawyer, has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release Baron Nnamdi, an ad executive.
Nnamdi was arrested in Enugu State for “offensive 2023 election messages” on two billboards.
Effiong said in a statement that the EFCC’s reasons for their action are “baseless, false, and legally unfounded.”
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The lawyer stated that using the commission’s logo or name is not a criminal offence in and of itself.
He insisted that no section of the (Establishment) Act, 2004 makes the mere use of the name or logo illegal.
Citizens have a constitutional duty to assist law enforcement agencies in the discharge of their functions, according to Section 24 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), according to Effiong.
He advised the EFCC to reward citizens who engage in rigorous public education campaigns against economic and financial crimes rather than punishing or persecuting them.
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“In essence, the Concerned Enugu Citizens of Scotland, who sponsored the advertisements, are simply carrying out their constitutional obligations.” The billboards’ message is both patriotic and timely.
He joked, “What crime has the advertisement executive committed that warrants his arrest by the EFCC?”
According to Effiong, “Offensive EFCC Campaign Adverts,” as mentioned by the EFCC, is not a legal offence in Nigeria.
He urged the commission to release the advertisement executive immediately, publicly apologise to him, and compensate him for the malicious damage to his billboards.
“The Commission should arrest corrupt politicians in Enugu State and across the country who are using stolen public funds to fund their insatiable political campaigns and ambitions,” the statement continued.
