By Mustapha Usman
A Kano business man and Chief Executive Officer of LEDA Consortium Nig. LTD, Bashir Ishaq Bashir, has dragged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and business man, Musbahu Bashir, to court over illegal detention and false accusations against him.
Joined in the suit are Mr Musbahu’s company, Althain Energy Ltd and Federal Ministry of Justice.
Mr Musbahu allegedly purchased 20 per cent of shares of LEDA consortium at $3million in March 2013, under a defined agreement to pay a non-refundable sum of $1million to go into the bid.
According to the agreement, Mr Musbahu would pay the balance of $2m if the company wins the bid or be compensated with 5% shares in one of the consortium’s sister companies.
When LEDA Greenpower Ltd lost the bid, it dragged the Bureau for Public Enterprise, BPE, to an Abuja High Court for violation of privatisation and bidding guidelines. The case is still subsisting.
Three years after losing the bid, Mr Musbahu allegedly involved a top officer of the EFCC to detain and “intimidate” Mr Bashir to pay the $1million he paid to the company.
Upon his release by the EFCC, Mr Bashir filed a case at an Abuja High Court, seeking payment of N250million being exemplary damages for false accusations, illegal detention and violation of his fundamental right.
Mr Bashir also sought a declaration that Mr Musbahu was not entitled to use his connections with the EFCC operatives and settle a case that is purely civil and business dispute arising from their joint venture to bid for the Kaduna DISCO.
