Court fines EFCC over unlawful invasion of firm

Court fines EFCC over unlawful invasion of firm

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday imposed N1 million fine on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) for unlawfully invading an Abuja-based company.

THECONSCIENCEng gathered that the company, Fezel Nigeria Limited, located at Plot 792, Cadastral Zone Industrial Estate, Idu-Abuja was forcefully invaded by officers of the EFCC early this year without any justifiable reason.

Justice Inyang Ekwo in a judgment in a suit instituted against the EFCC held that the anti-graft agency acted in breach of the Constitutional rights of the plaintiff in the way the company was invaded by fully armed agents of the EFCC.

Specifically, the Judge held that the EFCC breached sections 36, 37, 40, 43 and 44 by sealing up the company without any just cause.

The court thereafter granted an order of injunction against the EFCC restraining it, its officials, agents and privies from disturbing, intimidating, harassing and arresting any staff or any worker of the company.

Justice Ekwo said the action of the anti-graft agency amounted to violation of the rights of the plaintiff to own property as enshrined in section 43 of the 1999 Constitution.

The court magistrate proceeded to award a fine of N1 million naira against the EFCC to be paid to the company for the infringements on its Constitutional rights.