Court Orders EFCC to Pay Ex-Power Minister N10 Million Over Defamation

An FCT High Court has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to pay N10 million in damages to a former Minister of Power, Dr. Olu Agunloye, following a successful defamation suit.

The presiding judge, Justice Peter Kekemeke, ruled that the anti-graft agency acted unlawfully when it published a statement titled “EFCC arraigns Agunloye over $6bn fraud” on its official website and social media platforms. The court determined that the publication was false, as the criminal charges filed against the former minister did not include allegations of fraud.

During the proceedings, the court noted that the EFCC, as a regulatory body, misrepresented the nature of the ongoing legal case. Justice Kekemeke emphasized that the commission failed to provide evidence to support the claims made in the publication, thereby damaging the former minister’s reputation.

In addition to the monetary damages, the court issued a perpetual injunction prohibiting the EFCC from making further defamatory statements against Dr. Agunloye. The commission has also been mandated to issue a formal apology on its website and publish retractions in two national newspapers.

Counsel for the EFCC, Dr. Wahab Shittu (SAN), expressed disagreement with the ruling and indicated that the agency intends to file an appeal. He argued that the civil suit was premature, given that the related criminal case against the former minister is still ongoing.