Court Imposes N3m Fine On EFCC For Declaring Emefiele’s Wife Wanted

A federal high court in Lagos has ruled against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for declaring Margaret Emefiele, the wife of former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, as wanted.

Judge Deinde Dipeolu ruled in Margaret’s favor on Friday in her fundamental rights suit, ordering the EFCC to pay her N3 million in damages for violating her rights.

In February, the EFCC had published Margaret’s photos and details, alongside Eric Ocheme Odoh, Anita Joy Omoile, and Jonathan Omoile, accusing them of money laundering linked to the former CBN governor.

Margaret, aggrieved by being declared wanted without a court order, sued the EFCC and its chairman.

She demanded removal of her name and photo from the wanted list, plus a public apology on national TV and in three newspapers.

In his ruling, Judge Dipeolu agreed that the EFCC’s actions were illegal, breaching Sections 41 and 42 of the ACJA 2015 without a valid court order.

He affirmed Margaret’s rights to dignity, personal liberty, and security under Nigerian laws and the African Charter.

The court ordered the EFCC to immediately remove Margaret’s name and photos from its website and issue a public apology.

The judge also imposed a N3 million fine jointly on the EFCC and its chairman for violating Margaret’s rights.

“That the Applicant is entitled to the protection of her fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, right to dignity of her person, freedom of movement and right to security as guaranteed under Sections 33, 34, 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended),” the judge ruled.

“And Articles 4, 5, 6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A9) VOL.1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2011.

“That the publication of the Applicant’s name and photograph on the website of the Respondent as having been declared “WANTED” without complying with the provisions of Sections 41 and 42 of the ACJA, and without any valid Charge and/or Court Order to that effect, amounts to a violation of the Applicant’s fundamental rights to the dignity of her person, right to personal liberty, freedom of movement and right to security.

“As guaranteed under Sections 34, 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Articles 5, 6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A9) VOL.1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2011.

“The respondent is directed to immediately withdraw the publication of the applicant’s name and photographs from the list of persons wanted by the respondents on its website.

“The respondents are directed to issue a public apology to the applicant on its website where the name and photographs of the applicant were published among the list of persons wanted.

“The sum of N3 million is awarded against the respondents jointly and severally in favour of the applicant for the violation of her fundamental rights.”

KanyiDaily recalls that EFCC recently accused Godwin Emefiele of printing N684,590,000 with the sum of N18.96 billion.