EFCC ordered to pay N10m damages: The Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has ruled in favor of Pastor Oyinmiebi Biribena and his wife, Pastor Beatrice Biribena, awarding them damages totaling N10 million against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for declaring them wanted without a valid court order.
Pastor Biribena oversees the Christ Embassy Church in Kumasi, Ghana.
The court found that EFCC’s publication on June 8, 2022, declaring the Biribenas wanted without proper judicial authorization, was unjust, illegal, and unconstitutional.
In a case filed by the Biribenas on June 10, 2022, seeking the enforcement of their fundamental human rights against EFCC, Justice Dashen of the Federal High Court in Yenagoa issued the judgment, siding with the plaintiffs and against the anti-corruption agency.
The court also ruled that EFCC’s actions breached the Biribenas’ fundamental rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement, right to privacy and family life, and dignity of the human person, as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Additionally, Justice Dashen ordered EFCC to issue a public apology to the Biribenas for the unlawful publication and barred the agency from inviting, harassing, arresting, or detaining the plaintiffs pending the resolution of another suit involving Bliss Multinational Perfections Limited, Oyinmiebi Biribena, and EFCC.
In that case, Justice Dashen ruled that EFCC lacked the authority to intervene in disputes arising from civil transactions related to registered business activities of cooperative societies. The court also declared EFCC’s seizure of properties belonging to Bliss Multinational Perfections Limited and Oyinmiebi Biribena as wrongful and unlawful.
Furthermore, the court issued a perpetual injunction preventing EFCC from taking any further action against the Biribenas over disputes arising from transactions with Baraza Multipurpose Cooperative Society.
Though the plaintiffs had sought N100 million in damages, the court awarded them N10 million as exemplary damages against EFCC.
