EFCC pays N3m damages to illegal detention victim

Lanre Adewole, Abuja - 06.02.2009

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has paid N3 million damages to a Lagos business man, Dr. Sylvester Odigie, who was detained by the commission between May 24 and July 6, 2006.

A federal high court sitting in Abuja had declared as illegal, his detention by the commission under the leadership of Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and ordered the payment of the damages and public apology.

The new leadership under Mrs. Farida Waziri decided to obey the court order and presented the sum to the business man on Thursday, reiterating its commitment to the discharge of its responsibility within the ambit of the law.

A statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by the commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Femi Babafemi, quoted Waziri as saying that “as a law enforcement agency, we have chosen to abide by this court judgment to further buttress our determination to always work within the ambit of the rule of law.”

Waziri assured that the commission would continue in its responsibility of fighting all forms of economic crimes in the country.

Reacting to the development, Dr. Odigie, who said he was wrongfully detained by the EFCC between May and July 2006 over some land transactions, expressed gratitude to Mrs. Waziri for upholding the court order.

“This is a special day. I never knew this day will ever come in Nigeria. It is here, and I want the world to know that this is a new era altogether, an era of rule of law,” he said.