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.
Justice Peter Kekemeke ruled on Tuesday that the anti-graft agency acted unlawfully when it published a statement titled “EFCC arraigns Agunloye over $6bn fraud” on its website and social media platforms.
The court held that the publication was false, as the criminal charges filed against the former minister did not include allegations of fraud.
Justice Kekemeke said the EFCC, as a regulatory body, misrepresented the nature of the ongoing case and failed to provide evidence to support the claims, thereby damaging Agunloye’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.
