By Hadiza Abdulkadir
Human rights lawyer and activist Abba Hikima has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of detaining Kano-based blogger Maryam Shehu for more than 30 days without charging her with an economic or financial crime.
Hikima made the allegation in a post on his verified Facebook page, saying Shehu was arrested in Kano and subsequently detained by the EFCC in Abuja after she allegedly raised corruption concerns involving some EFCC officials.
According to the lawyer, Shehu is not accused of stealing, fraud, money laundering or any other economic or financial crime. He also alleged that an EFCC official lured her with a business proposal before her arrest and transfer to Abuja.
Hikima further questioned the EFCC’s handling of the matter, arguing that the agency should not simultaneously act as complainant, investigator and judge in allegations involving its own officials.
He called for Shehu to either be charged before a competent court if she committed an offence or released to allow an independent investigation into the allegations against EFCC officials. He also appealed to human rights organisations to intervene in the case.
“Investigation is not punishment,” Hikima said, while calling for Shehu’s release or prosecution.
The EFCC had not responded to the accusations at the time of filing this report.
The allegations by Hikima could not be independently verified at the time of publication.