A Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a N10 million fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by a former bank manager, Fidelis Eugeke, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), his estranged wife, Blessing Eugeke, and her brother. Justice Ogundare ruled that the case was frivolous, unmeritorious, and abused court processes, ordering the applicant to pay N750,000 in damages to the EFCC and the two other respondents.
Egueke, who previously served as the Branch Manager of Zenith Bank in Asaba, Delta State, had petitioned the court seeking several reliefs, including a declaration that the EFCC’s invitation to an interview in March 2022, at the behest of his estranged wife and her brother, was unlawful and unconstitutional.
He also sought a perpetual injunction to prevent further arrest or interrogation in relation to the same matter, as well as N10 million in damages for what he claimed was the infringement of his fundamental rights.
The banker, in his affidavit, alleged that he was forced to resign from Zenith Bank due to false allegations made against him by his estranged wife, which led to his arrest by the Nigeria Police in October 2020.
Federal High Court Dismisses N10 Million Suit Filed by Ex-Bank Manager Against EFCC, Wife, and Brother-in-Law
He further claimed that the arrest had not been adequately explained at the time, causing him to initially believe he had been kidnapped until he recognized the driver of his brother-in-law among those involved.
The EFCC, Blessing Eugeke, and her brother denied the allegations and filed counter-affidavits, attaching several documentary exhibits in their defence. They refuted the claims and urged the court to dismiss the suit as incompetent, frivolous, and abusing the judicial process.
In delivering judgment, Justice Ogundare stated that after reviewing the submissions, legal authorities, and exhibits provided, the applicant had failed to present sufficient evidence to substantiate his claims. The court ruled that the EFCC’s investigation had not infringed on the banker’s rights and that his claims had no merit.
“I have looked at the documentary exhibits attached to the affidavit in support of the application and the further affidavit of the applicant in response to the counter-affidavits of the 2nd and 3rd respondents. What can be seen there has not answered the allegations that the 1st respondent seeks to investigate,” Justice Ogundare stated.
“There is no evidence of any threat of infringement on the applicant’s fundamental rights from the totality of all facts and evidence before the court,” the judge added.
The court subsequently dismissed the suit, awarding N250,000 in costs to each respondent.
