ACHILLEUS UCHEGBU, Deputy News Editor

Mr. Balogun, was picked up Monday by operatives of the commission from his Ikoyi residence and detained at Lagos Office of EFCC on Awolowo Road, also in Ikoyi.

Though he was removed from office on January 17, after he was accused of lodging over N1 billion in his bank accounts, the former IGP has since then enjoyed his freedom and had access to his lawyers, though his international travel documents were reportedly seized.

However, attempts by his lawyer, Mr. Tunji Abayomi to have audience with him yesterday was rebuffed by operatives of the commission.

Abayomi, who spoke in a chat with Daily Champion, said he arrived office of the commission about 8.00 a.m. hoping to confer with Mr. Balogun on the next line of action, adding that officials of the commission ignored him and his request, allowing him to stand in the sun for about six hours.

According to him, two operatives of EFCC approached him about 1.00 p.m.

ith information that there is a standing order from Abuja not to allow the ex-super cop see any lawyer, even though they had denied knowledge of his whereabouts initially.

"I arrived their office on Awolowo road, Ikoyi at 8.00 a.m. and said I wanted to see my client. They told me that he is no longer with them. I insisted he was there and that I wanted to see him. They refused.

"Later, I saw his brother bringing food to him and I sent words to him through his brother, telling him that I was outside and would want to see him.

"He sent words back to me that he also wants to see me. So I insisted on seeing him, they still did not allow me.

"Then at about 1.00p.m., two officials of the commission came to me and told me that they are under instructions from Abuja not to allow any lawyer to see him. All I know is that for now, they have denied him access to his lawyers," Mr. Abayomi narrated.

The lawyer also dispelled rumour over possibility of arraigning Balogun in court this week, reminding that the courts are still on Easter break.

" I do not know when they will arraign him, but certainly not this week. May be next week. The courts are still on vacation," he said.

Meanwhile, effort to get EFCC’s reaction to the development proved abortive as the commission’s spokesperson, Osita Nwajah, was said to be unavailable for comment.

Daily Champion which kept a tab on Mr. Nwajah was informed by a lady who constantly answered his personal phone that he had been in a meeting since 10 a.m.

‘My name is Toyin. I do not work in this department but he left his phone here. He has been in a meeting since 10.00 a.m.," the lady said.

Mr. Balogun’s latest agony began 70 days after he was forced to resign by President Olusegun Obasanjo in the renewed onslaught against corruption.

The ex-crime burster who officially disengaged from the force on March 6, has about N2.7 billion, allegedly belonging to him frozen by a federal high court in Lagos at the instance of EFCC.

The amount was allegedly found in five different bank accounts, traced to him.

Several bank accounts, with huge deposits have also, allegedly, been traced to him by the commission, which sources disclosed, while more than 10 landed property, within and outside Nigeria, bear his name.