Court Orders EFCC To Apologise, Pay Kano Businessman N5m Damages For Wrongful ‘Wanted’ Declaration

The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to apologise to a Kano-born businessman, Rabiu Auwalu Tijjani, and pay him N5 million in damages for unlawfully declaring him wanted.

Justice H. Buhari, who delivered the ruling, held that the EFCC violated Tijjani’s fundamental rights when it published his name and photograph on its website without obtaining a court order or following the proper legal procedures.

The judge described the Commission’s action as unconstitutional and outside the scope of its powers.

A certified true copy of the judgment released on Thursday showed that Tijjani filed a fundamental rights suit against the EFCC and businessman Ifeanyi Ezeokoli after the Commission declared him wanted on July 11, 2025.

The move stemmed from a commercial dispute over a multi-million-dollar gold transaction between the two men in 2022.

According to court documents, the parties initially reconciled an overpayment of N26 million, but an independent audit later suggested an additional discrepancy of more than $2 million in Tijjani’s favour.

Tijjani reported the matter to the Department of State Services (DSS), and both sides submitted records for investigation. However, while the DSS probe was ongoing, Ezeokoli petitioned the EFCC.

The plaintiff told the court that although the EFCC contacted him on WhatsApp and he sent a representative, neither of them was invited again before the Commission published him as wanted, which he insisted had damaged his reputation and business interests.

Justice Buhari ruled that while the EFCC has the authority to declare suspects wanted, it must do so strictly in line with the law, including obtaining an order from a competent court.

The court added that the arrest warrant secured from a Magistrate’s Court did not authorise the Commission to declare Tijjani wanted publicly.

Justice Buhari also criticised the anti-corruption agency for interfering in what it described as a purely civil or commercial dispute, especially one already under investigation by the DSS.

The judge, citing appellate court precedents, warned that anti-graft and security agencies must not be used to settle business disagreements or enforce debts.

Consequently, the court declared the EFCC’s publication as a breach of Tijjani’s rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement and due process.

It subsequently ordered the Commission to immediately take down the publication, issue a public apology, and pay N5 million in damages.