A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has awarded the sum of N15 million in favour of the Koko-Ama community in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.
The compensation is against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
DAILY POST reports that the community had earlier filed a N100 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the EFCC, over the alleged invasion and seizure of their waterfront.
The incident was said to have occurred in 2023, during an EFCC operation targeting suspected illegal oil bunkering activities.
In their suit, the residents of Koko-Ama sought N100 billion in compensation for the alleged violation of their fundamental human rights.
In her judgement on Thursday, the presiding judge, Justice Rita Oguguo, ruled that the anti-graft agency had no legal justification to invade an entire community while searching for specific individuals.
She consequently awarded N15 million in damages against the EFCC.
The judge equally directed the immediate withdrawal of all police personnel stationed at the community’s waterfront within 24 hours.
She warned against future invasions under the guise of pursuing individuals.
