The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna
has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to tender a public apology to a Dubai-based businessman, Alhaji Rabiu Tijjani, for unlawfully declaring him wanted.
The court also awarded N5 million in damages against the anti-graft agency for violating Tijjani’s fundamental rights.
Delivering judgment, Justice H. Buhari held that the EFCC acted outside the bounds of the law when it published Tijjani’s photograph and personal details on its official website without first obtaining a valid court order authorizing such action.
In the certified true copy of the judgment released on Thursday, the judge ruled that the Commission’s decision to declare Tijjani wanted without due process was unlawful, unconstitutional, and a violation of his rights. He noted that an arrest warrant issued by a Magistrate’s Court does not confer the power to publicly brand a citizen as wanted.
Tijjani, a Kano-born gold merchant based in Dubai, instituted a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the EFCC and a businessman, Ifeanyi Ezeokoli, over a disputed multimillion-dollar gold transaction that dates back to 2022.
Court documents showed that both parties had earlier reconciled an overpayment of ₦26 million, but a subsequent audit allegedly revealed an additional discrepancy of more than $2 million in Tijjani’s favour. Tijjani reported the matter to the Department of State Services, where both parties submitted documents and engaged independent auditors during an ongoing investigation.
Despite the DSS inquiry, Ezeokoli later petitioned the EFCC. Tijjani told the court that the Commission contacted him only once via WhatsApp, after which he sent a representative, adding that he was never invited again before being declared wanted, an action he said damaged his reputation internationally.
Justice Buhari stressed that while the EFCC has statutory powers to declare suspects wanted, such authority must be exercised strictly in line with the law. He warned that law enforcement agencies must not be used as instruments for settling civil or commercial disputes, especially when another security agency is already handling the matter.
The court further ordered the immediate removal of Tijjani’s name and details from the EFCC’s website and directed the Commission to issue a public apology. Although Tijjani had sought ₦1.5 billion in damages and other reliefs, the court granted only ₦5 million.
Reacting to the judgment through his counsel, Tijjani described the ruling as a victory for justice and a reminder that investigative agencies must not abuse their powers. The EFCC has yet to comment on the judgment.
