Court Orders EFCC To Pay N10 Million Damages For Unlawfully Declaring Pastor, Wife Wanted

By Towncriernews 

For unlawfully declaring a couple wanted court order, a Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has ruled against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), asking it to pay them the sum of N10 million as damages.

The court said the EFCC aired by unlawfully declaring Pastor Oyinmiebi Biribena and his wife, Pastor Beatrice Biribena, wanted without a valid court order.

The court’s decision was sequel to a suit filed by the Biribenas seeking the enforcement of their fundamental human rights against the EFCC. 

Justice Dashen, who presided over the case, declared the EFCC’s publication declaring the couple wanted without a valid court order as unjustified, unlawful, and unconstitutional.

Additionally, the court ordered the EFCC to offer a public apology to the Biribenas for the unlawful publication and restrained the agency from inviting, harassing, arresting, and detaining the plaintiffs pending the determination of the suit.

In a related development, the court made another declaration in favour of plaintiffs against the anti graft agency in a case involving Bliss Multinational Perfections Limited. 

It ruled that the EFCC cannot interfere in disputes arising from civil transactions between members of Baraza Multipurpose Cooperative Society and cannot seize properties not proven to be proceeds of crime.

Consequently, the court declared the EFCC’s seizure of properties belonging to Bliss Multinational Perfections Limited and Oyinmiebi Biribena as wrongful and unlawful.

 It also issued an injunction restraining the EFCC from further harassment of the plaintiffs over disputes with the cooperative society.

Though the plaintiffs requested N100 million in damages, the court granted N10 million as exemplary damages against the EFCC for its wrongful actions