Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court has fined the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for unlawfully breaking into Fezel Nigeria Ltd. in Abuja on Tuesday.

Officials of the EFCC had invaded Fezel Nigeria Ltd., located at Plot 792, Cadastral Zone, Industrial Estate, Idu, Abuja, earlier this year. The court determined that the EFCC broke into the company’s premises for no just reason.

Ekwo said that the EFCC had acted in breach of the constitutional rights of Fezel. He also held that the commission had breached sections 36, 37, 40, 43 and 44 of the constitution by sealing up Fezel unjustly.

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Ekwo said that the operation amounted to a violation of the rights of Fezel to own property and awarded a N1 million naira fine against the EFCC.

The high court also granted an order of injunction to restrain the EFCC, its officials, agents and privies from intimidating, harassing and arresting any of Fezel’s staff.

FIJ had reported how the EFCC invaded A3 Hotels, Ibadan, Oyo State, in a similar manner on March 29. An eyewitness said that EFCC officials invaded customers’ privacy and started shouting at a couple to submit their mobile phones. More reports of EFCC invasion of private property have surfaced in recent times.