Court Orders EFCC To Pay Ex-Minister Agunloye ₦10m Over Defamatory $6bn Fraud Claim
A court has ruled that anti-corruption agencies must distinguish between criminal allegations and sensational claims, ordering the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to pay ₦10 million in damages for defaming former Power Minister, Dr Olu Agunloye.
Justice Peter Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, ruled that the EFCC damaged Agunloye’s reputation by publishing the headline, “EFCC arraigns Agunloye over $6billion fraud”, on its website and social media platforms.
Delivering judgment in the defamation suit, the court held that the criminal charges against the former minister contained no allegation of fraud, describing the EFCC’s publication as sensational, false and defamatory.
Justice Kekemeke ruled that the commission failed to prove the truth of the publication and ordered it to retract the report and publicly apologise on its website and in two national newspapers.
The court also issued a perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC from further defaming Agunloye and awarded him ₦10 million in damages.
Agunloye had sought ₦1 billion in general and exemplary damages, claiming the publication portrayed him as corrupt and fraudulent.
Reacting to the judgment, EFCC counsel, Dr Wahab Shittu, SAN, said the commission would appeal, arguing that the defamation suit was premature as the criminal case against Agunloye had yet to be concluded.
“We are definitely going to appeal the court’s decision,” Shittu said.
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