The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to tender a public apology to Dubai-based businessman, Alhaji Rabiu Tijjani, for unlawfully declaring him wanted.
The court also awarded ₦5 million in damages against the Commission.
Delivering judgment, Justice H. Buhari held that the EFCC acted “outside the ambit of the law” when it published Tijjani’s photograph and details on its official website without first securing a valid court order authorising such a declaration.
“The action of the first respondent in declaring the applicant wanted without following due process is unlawful, unconstitutional, and a violation of his fundamental rights,” the judge ruled in the certified true copy of the judgment released on Thursday. “A mere arrest warrant issued by a Magistrate’s Court does not empower the EFCC to publicly brand a citizen as wanted.”
Case Background
Tijjani, a Kano-born gold merchant based in Dubai, filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the EFCC and businessman Mr. Ifeanyi Ezeokoli. The matter arose from a disputed multimillion-dollar gold transaction dating back to 2022.
According to court filings, both parties had reconciled an initial overpayment of ₦26 million.
However, a later audit allegedly uncovered an additional discrepancy of over $2 million in Tijjani’s favour.
He subsequently reported the matter to the Department of State Services (DSS), where both sides submitted documents and engaged independent auditors during an ongoing investigation.
While the DSS inquiry was still active, Ezeokoli petitioned the EFCC. Tijjani said the Commission contacted him only once via WhatsApp, after which he sent a representative. “At no time after that single communication was I invited again,” he told the court. “Yet the EFCC proceeded to publish me as a wanted person, damaging my reputation internationally.”
Credit: channelstv.com
