Court orders EFCC to pay lawyer N12m for illegal detention

A Federal Capital Territory High Court has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to compensate Dr Monday Ubani, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law, NBA-SPIDEL, N12 million for his wrongful arrest and incarceration for 20 days in 2019.

Ubani was arrested and detained by the EFCC on March 19, 2019 along with Senator Christopher Enai, for failing to produce the former Managing Director of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, Ngozi Olejeme, who they both stood for as sureties.

Justice Sylvanus Oriji on Wednesday January 26, declared that Ubani’s arrest and subsequent detention for 20 days was illegal and a violation of his right.

 The Judge who refused to order the anti-graft agency to offer a public apology for the illegal detention, ordered the EFCC to pay Ubani N12 million as damages.