The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been ordered to pay N20 million as compensation for violating the fundamental human rights of one Mr. Ubong Williams.
The commission was dragged before a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State by Mr. Ubong Williams who accused operatives of the commission of violating his fundamental human rights.
The EFCC had investigated Mr. Williams for alleged fraud in connection with several road projects in Akwa Ibom State and had invaded his private residence, destroyed some of his property with armed operatives and whisked him away.
Justice Oshoma, the presiding judge determined that the invasion of his home, detention and frequent invitation of Mr. Williams by the EFCC was in violation of his fundamental human rights guaranteed under sections 34 and 35 of the Nigerian Constitution.
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Aside from granting the prayer of the respondent to claim N20 million for damages, the Judge ordered the EFCC to publish an apology in a national newspaper to Mr. Williams for violating his fundamental human rights.
The Judge also issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining the anti-graft commission from further arresting and harassing the applicant pending the determination of another suit marked PHC/PH/FHR/240/2020.
In another related matter, Nigerians have called on the EFCC to stop the practice of parading suspects as the practice is unethical and alien to Nigerian law. Nigerians accused the EFCC of always engaging in media trials of the suspects by parading them forgetting that suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty by court of law.
Nigerians have identified this as one of the major reasons why EFCC officials lose corruption cases in court.