The family of Moses Oddiri, a lawyer from Delta State, has raised alarm over his prolonged detention by the Department of State Services (DSS) after the expiration of a 30-day court-ordered remand. Oddiri, who was arrested in connection with a petition he filed against the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has now been held beyond the lawful period, leading his family to accuse the DSS of unconstitutional conduct.

Unlawful Detention After Court Warrant Expired

According to Oddiri’s family, the DSS quietly obtained a 30-day remand order from a court to hold him, a fact they only discovered recently. “We learned that DSS had a 30-day warrant obtained by a court for my father’s detention. That 30-day period has already expired, yet he has not been charged in court, and DSS is still holding him,” a family member told SaharaReporters.

The family has described this continued detention as a violation of Oddiri’s fundamental rights under the Nigerian Constitution, particularly the right to a fair trial. “Today makes it 31 days. Tomorrow will make it 32 days in detention without trial, which is a direct violation of the Constitution,” the family member stated.

Support From Orogun Community

The prolonged detention has sparked significant concern in Oddiri’s hometown of Orogun, Delta State, where community leaders, traditional rulers, and local groups have rallied behind him. The Orogun community has publicly expressed their support, with chiefs, elders, and youth leaders stating that Oddiri was acting on their mandate in his efforts to seek justice for the community.

The Alleged Cause of Arrest: Petition Against EFCC Chairman

Moses Oddiri’s arrest is linked to a petition he filed with the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) in London, alleging that EFCC Chairman Olukoyede was involved in diverting community development funds meant for the Orogun Oil Producing Community. Oddiri had represented the community in its fight for over N4 billion in statutory development funds allegedly owed by Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd.

The petition claimed that the EFCC Chairman, instead of helping recover the funds, had allegedly colluded with those responsible for the misappropriation. Oddiri’s advocacy for the Orogun community has been marked by years of struggle against injustice, but sources allege that his petition against Olukoyede led to his arrest.

Disputed Funds and Allegations of Collusion

The controversy revolves around over N4 billion in community development funds that Oddiri’s community claims has been misappropriated by Heritage Energy. In July 2024, representatives of the community, including Oddiri, filed a petition with the EFCC, urging the agency to investigate the missing funds. Sources claim that EFCC Chairman Olukoyede later told the petitioners that over N4 billion had been recovered and placed under an EFCC lien, but refused to disclose the account signatories or hold a promised stakeholders’ meeting to discuss the matter.

Critics allege that the EFCC Chairman and the Managing Director of Heritage Energy are complicit in the diversion of the community’s funds, with some calling the situation a case of cover-up. The EFCC’s handling of the matter has raised doubts, especially after a payment of N4.1 billion was made in January 2025 to the Uherieve Host Community, another party that was not part of the original arrangement.

Lack of Transparency and Accountability

Despite the grave concerns raised by Oddiri’s family and the Orogun community, neither the DSS nor the EFCC has issued a public statement regarding his detention. Human rights organizations have expressed alarm over the continued incommunicado detention of individuals, warning that such actions violate both Nigerian constitutional guarantees and international human rights law. These violations include the right to legal representation and access to information about one’s detention.

The family is calling for Oddiri’s immediate release or his arraignment in a competent court of law. They insist that the authorities must either charge him and provide due process or release him without further delay.

The Broader Context

The case highlights ongoing concerns about the transparency and accountability of Nigerian security agencies and their handling of detainees. Families of those held by the DSS often struggle to obtain information about their loved ones, especially when detainees are transferred to undisclosed locations, as was the case with Oddiri. This lack of information and the secretive nature of detentions have become a central issue for human rights advocates in Nigeria.

As the situation develops, Oddiri’s family and community continue to demand justice and the protection of constitutional rights, calling on the Nigerian government and international bodies to intervene in what they regard as a case of unlawful detention and political retaliation.