The Federal High Court in Lagos has fined the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) N3m for violating the fundamental human rights of Margaret Emefiele, wife of a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
The court also directed the EFCC to remove Mrs. Emefiele’s name and photograph from its wanted list and to issue a public apology to her.
The EFCC had declared her wanted in February 2024 over alleged money laundering charges.
The presiding judge, Justice Deinde Dipeolu, held that the EFCC’s actions were unlawful and constituted a breach of Mrs. Emefiele’s rights.
The judge ruled, “That the Applicant is entitled to the protection of her fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, right to dignity of her person, freedom of movement and right to security as guaranteed under Sections 33, 34, 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“That the publication of the Applicant’s name and photograph on the website of the Respondent as having been declared ‘Wanted’ without complying with the provisions of Sections 41 and 42 of the ACJA, and without any valid Charge and/or Court Order to that effect, amounts to a violation of the Applicant’s fundamental rights to the dignity of her person, right to personal liberty, freedom of movement and right to security.
“As guaranteed under Sections 34, 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Articles 5, 6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A9) VOL.1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2011.
“The respondent is directed to immediately withdraw the publication of the applicant’s name and photographs from the list of persons wanted by the respondents on its website.”
The court directed the respondents to issue a public apology to the applicant on its website where the name and photographs of the applicant were published among the list of persons wanted.
“The sum of N3m is awarded against the respondents jointly and severally in favour of the applicant for the violation of her fundamental rights,” it added.
Counsel to Mrs. Emefiele hailed the judgment as a victory for the rule of law, while the EFCC has yet to comment on the ruling.