AGF Urged to Probe EFCC Over Detention of BUK Final Year Student, Maryam Shehu
Human rights lawyer Abba Hikima has called on the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to urgently intervene in the case of Maryam Isah Shehu, a final-year student of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), describing her prolonged detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a violation of due process and Nigeria’s human rights obligations.
In a statement on Thursday, Hikima criticised what he described as the EFCC’s handling of the case, alleging that the anti-graft agency detained the student for 35 days before filing a single-count charge against her.
According to him, the charge was filed less than 24 hours after concerns were publicly raised over her continued detention without trial.
Hikima argued that the timeline raised serious questions about the necessity of keeping the student in custody for more than a month, especially when the prosecution eventually consisted of only one count allegedly linked to a social media post.
He said Maryam’s alleged offence stemmed from claims she made on social media accusing an EFCC zonal director of corruption, adding that the Commission had yet to publicly disclose whether the allegations against its official were independently investigated or the outcome of any such inquiry.
“From all available information, the accuser was arrested and detained, while the substance of the allegation itself appears to have been set aside without transparent investigation,” he said.
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The lawyer further alleged that the EFCC served the charge on the defendant only on the eve of her arraignment, a development he said denied her legal team adequate time to prepare and properly argue her bail application before the court.
He maintained that a criminal charge filed after 35 days of detention could not retrospectively justify or legalise the prolonged detention that preceded it.
Hikima also argued that the anti-corruption agency should not rely on procedural timelines arising from delays it allegedly created to oppose an application for bail.
According to him, prosecutorial agencies are expected to facilitate justice rather than create procedural obstacles for defendants.
The human rights lawyer urged the Attorney-General, as the nation’s Chief Law Officer, to review the matter, warning that the handling of the case could affect Nigeria’s reputation regarding compliance with international human rights obligations.
He noted that Nigeria is a signatory to several international human rights instruments and said the conduct of law enforcement agencies is often considered in assessing the country’s adherence to its treaty commitments.
Hikima further called for the immediate grant of bail to Maryam Shehu and demanded an independent and transparent investigation into the corruption allegations she reportedly raised against the EFCC official.
“The law must protect the accuser as much as it investigates the accusation,” he said.
The EFCC has yet to publicly respond to Hikima’s allegations regarding the student’s detention, the timing of the charge, or the status of any investigation into the corruption claims referenced in the statement.
By PRNigeria
