Court Orders FG, EFCC To Pay Emefiele N100m For Unlawful Detention

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the FCT High Court issued a ruling on Monday, awarding N100 million damages to Godwin Emefiele.

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.

It issued an order restraining the Federal Government and its agents from re-arresting or detaining Emefiele without a court order.

The embattled Emefiele had initiated legal action against the Federal Government, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), and the EFCC to defend his fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, fair hearing, and freedom of movement

Emefiele petitioned the court to declare as unlawful his continuous detention by the first and second respondents’ agency since June 10, 2023, followed by his transfer to the custody of the third and fourth respondents on October 26, 2023, as unlawful due to not being arraigned in court.

He claimed that the respondent’s actions, disregarding numerous valid and standing court orders for his release, amounted to a serious violation of his fundamental rights to life and personal liberty, as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights

He, therefore, sought, among other requests, an injunction to prevent the respondents from arresting or detaining him further upon his release by the court unless they present a criminal charge against him.

He also sought damages totaling N1 billion in his favor for the infringement of his fundamental rights.

Kanyi Daily recalls that An Abuja High Court in Maitama had granted bail to the former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele, to the tune of N300 million.