Federal court rules EFCC Broke the law in declaring Margaret Emefiele wanted, orders immediate withdrawal of publication, awards N3m against agency

The Federal High Court, Lagos has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately withdraw the publication, name and photograph of Margaret Dumbiri Emefiele, the wife of Godwin Emefiele, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), from the list of “Wanted Persons”.

Justice D.I Dipeolu, in a ruling on Wednesday, June 28, also directed the EFCC to tender a public apology to Emefiele’s wife on its official website, where her name and photograph were initially published as a wanted person, declaring that the anti-graft agency has no power to declare any person wanted “without complying with the provisions of Sections 41 and 42 of the ACJA 2015 and without any valid charge or court order.”

The court further awarded N3m in favour of Margaret Emefiele for breach of her fundamental rights.

The orders followed a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Margaret against the Chairman of the EFCC and the foremost anti-graft agency.

Marked FHC/L/CS/262/2024, Margaret had on 14th February filed an originating motion dated 12th February before the court, seeking the protection of her fundamental rights guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). The suit followed the public declaration of Margaret Emefiele as a wanted person by the EFCC.

According to Emefiele’s wife, the anti-graft agency did not invite her in connection with any allegation before declaring her wanted.