CITIZENS COMPASS – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday , January 8, 2024, said it will appeal a judgment of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), High Court awarding N100 million damages against it in favour of a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
EFCC expressed dissatisfaction with the judgment in a statement signed by its spokesman, Dele Oyewale.
Justice O.A Adeniyi, on Monday, January 7, 2024 fined the Commission after he ruled that the Commission’s detention of Emefiele in the course of his investigation was a violation of his right to liberty.
The decision failed to take cognizance of the fact that the former CBN boss was held with a valid order of court. Consequently, the Commission will approach the Court of Appeal to set it aside.
Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the FCT High Court on Monday awarded N100 million in damages to the suspended former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, against the Federal Government and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for violations of his rights.
The embattled Emefiele had dragged the Federal Government, Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and EFCC to enforce his fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, fair hearing, and freedom of movement.
Emefiele sought a declaration from the court that his continued detention by the agency of the first and second respondents since June 10, 2023, and subsequent transfer to the custody of the third and fourth respondents on October 26, 2023, without being arraigned in court is unlawful.
