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, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF.
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 reportedly 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.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, the presiding judge, Justice Rita Oguguo, ruled that the EFCC had no legal justification to invade an entire community while searching for specific individuals.
She consequently awarded N15 million in damages against the EFCC.
Justice Oguguo also ordered the immediate withdrawal of all police personnel stationed at the community’s waterfront within 24 hours, warning against future invasions under the guise of pursuing individuals.
Speaking to journalists outside the courtroom, counsel to the Koko-Ama community, Chime Sunday, expressed dissatisfaction with the amount awarded as compensation.
Sunday said “the community would review the judgment and decide on the next course of action.”
