Justice C.A.Obiozor of the Federal High Court, sitting in Benin City on Thursday, September 25, 2025 dismissed a case brought against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by Christopher E. Mene Esq, seeking the payment of N4,375,000 as special damages and N500 million as exemplary damages for a sting operation carried out by the Commission on May 23, 2023 in his property in Benin City.
The plaintiff had claimed that EFCC operatives damaged the doors of his property in the operation. During the hearing of the case, EFCC counsel, Immaculate Elodi presented one witness, Allison James Taiwo, an operative of the Commission while the plaintiff presented five witnesses.
Delivering judgment, Justice Obiozor held that the plaintiff was unable to prove that he was entitled to a sum of N4,375,000.00 being special damages for damaged doors of his property. He also held that the plaintiff was not entitled to N500 million as exemplary damages as the evidence provided by the defendant showed that criminals were arrested in the said property out of which 18 of them have been convicted and sentenced by a competent court.
The court further held that the plaintiff should rather have filed this claim for damages (if any) against his tenants and not the EFCC, given that his convicted tenants agreed in the tenancy agreement not to use the property for anything illegal or immoral and also undertook to indemnify the landlord in case of any damage done to the property as a result of any unlawful act traced to them.
While declaring that the court did not find the action of EFCC operatives that carried out the raid as excessive or oppressive towards the plaintiff, he further stated that law enforcement agencies should not be gagged.
“Let law enforcement agencies breathe and be allowed to do their work” as Section 12(1)and (2) of the ACJA 2015 provides that Law enforcement agencies …” May break open any outer or inner door or window of any house or place , whether that of the suspect to be arrested or of any other person or otherwise effect entry into such house or place, if after notification of his authority and purpose and demand of admittance duly made , he cannot otherwise obtain admittance”
