Court Orders EFCC To Remove Emefiele’s Wife From Wanted List

Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) illegally declared the wife of former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, Margaret, a wanted person.

Gatekeepers News reports that the court ordered the EFCC to remove her name and photograph from its website and pay N3 million in damages for violating her fundamental human rights.

Margaret Emefiele had sued the EFCC and its chairman for declaring her a wanted person without a valid court order or charge.

The court held that the EFCC’s actions violated sections 41 and 42 of the ACJA 2015 and ordered the agency to apologise to her on two national television stations and three newspapers.

The judge, D.I Dipeolu held: “I grant in favour of the applicant as follows: 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) and Articles 4, 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.

“That the publication of the applicant’s name and photograph on the website of the 2 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.”