A High Court in Port Harcourt has
slammed a six hundred million Naira in exemplary damages on the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for investigating and subsequently declaring
two officials of the Rivers State government wanted.
Justice George Omereji in a
fundamental human rights matter brought by the Accountant General of Rivers
state, Frederick Abere and a retired Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of
Local government Affairs, Lekia Bukpo, restated that the EFCC has no right to
investigate the State government or its officials.
Justice Omereji said he was
embarrassed by the actions of the anti-graft agency; EFCC who he said failed to
appeal the judgments against it but resorted to self-help by inviting the
officials.
He added that the EFCC should
first vacate the subsisting order made by Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal
High Court before taking any action on accounts of the State government.
Justice George Omereji also said
the letter of invitation of the EFCC was in disobedience to the court order and
malicious, adding that only the Rivers State House of Assembly has the right to
investigate the financial activities of the State government.
The court, however, declared that
three hundred million Naira each be paid by EFCC to Federick Abere and Lekia
Biokpo as examplary damages.
Counsel to the two officials of
the State government, Dike Udenna said verdict of the court addresses actions
of the federal agencies who take the judiciary for granted.
“We have a government that does
not obey court orders. That is why my clients decided to come to court to
reinforce that order.
“The N300m is for punitive
damages in favour of my clients. There is a subsisting court order. The EFCC
knows what to do,” Udenna said.
Recall that former Rivers State
Governor, Peter Odili obtained a court order from the Federal High Court in
2007 restraining the EFCC, ICPC, security and other federal government agencies
from investigating the financial activities of Rivers State government and its
officials.
very good
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