Tina Amanda
A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has barred the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC from harassing, intimidating, inviting, arresting or detaining one Christian Ile and members of Onuoha family in Ubima Community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Justice Adolphus Enebeli, in his judgment described as unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional the action of EFCC and its Zonal Head against the applicants in a matter that is civil in nature.
Justice Enebeli expressed concern that EFCC which is a creation of the law, should learn to respect the law rather than be used to abuse such law.
He insisted that the government Anti-Graft Agency can not have diverse jurisdiction in a matter that is civil in nature and is already pending in different courts.
Justice Enebeli after issuing an order of perpetual injunction against the EFCC from inviting, harassing, arresting and detaining of Christian Ile and members of the Onuoha family in Ubima Community, awarded the sum of ten million naira in favour of Ile as damages contrary to two hundred and fifty Million naira demand by the applicant.
Our correspondent reports that Counsels representing the Applicant and EFCC declined to comment on the judgement, while the 3rd Respondent in the case, Ikechi Jeffrey, said he will challenge the court decision at the Appeal.
CHRISTIAN ILE was first petitioned on the 20 January 2016 by the third respondent, IKECHI JEFFREY where he was invited and detained for days and was later petitioned by the same 3rd Respondent on the same subject matter on the 26 March 2021, was invited to EFCC office for the second time which resulted in him approaching the court for enforcement of his fundamental human rights.
