In a setback for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has imposed a ₦10 million fine on the agency for falsely listing Pastor Oyinmiebi Biribena and his wife, Pastor Beatrice Biribena, as wanted without a court order.
Presiding over the case, Justice Dashen ruled in favor of Pastor Biribena, who leads the Christ Embassy Church in Kumasi, Ghana.
The EFCC had declared the pastor and his wife wanted on June 8, 2022, a move deemed illegal, unconstitutional, and unjustifiable by the court.
In addition to the monetary fine, the court ordered EFCC to publicly apologize to Pastor Biribena and his spouse for the wrongful publication.
Despite the plaintiffs’ initial request for ₦100 million in damages, the court settled on ₦10 million as exemplary damages against EFCC.
