A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Friday slammed a fine of  ₦600 million in exemplary damages on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigating and subsequently declaring two officials of the Rivers State Government wanted over the accounts of the state.

In the ruling on the matter brought by the Accountant General of the state, Frederick Abere and a retired Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local government Affairs, Lekia Bukpo, the presiding judge, Justice George Omereji held that the EFCC has no right to investigate the state government or its officials over the finances of Rivers State.

Justice Omereji expressed dissatisfaction over the actions of the anti-graft agency which he said failed to appeal the judgments against it but resorted to self-help by inviting the officials, adding that the EFCC should first vacate the subsisting order made by Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court before taking any action on accounts of the state government.

The judge also noted that the letter of invitation of the EFCC was in disobedience to the court order and malicious, stressing that only the Rivers State House of Assembly has the right to investigate the financial activities of the state government.

 The court therefore declared that ₦300 million each be paid by the EFCC to Abere and Biokpo as exemplary damages.