BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BENIN—THE Court of Appeal sitting in Benin, Edo State, has dismissed the appeal by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against the judgment of a Federal High Court, Benin, which ordered the commission to pay N1.1million  to Mr. Philip Odigie for the violation of his fundamental human rights.

The appellate court in its judgment by Justice Tom Yakubu, dismissed EFCC’s appeal for lacking in merit and ordered the commission to pay the sum of N1.155 million to the respondent. The court also affirmed the judgment of the trial judge, Justice V. Nwokorie of the Federal High Court Benin on the issue.

EFCC in its appeal, had asked the appellate court to determine whether the Federal High Court had the jurisdiction to entertain the respondent’s suit bearing in mind that the arrest and initial detention took place in Benin and whether the award of N1m as damages against it was proper among others.

Dismissing the appeal, Justice Yakubu,  said: “The appeal is fluffy and lacking in merits. I dismiss it, accordingly.”