Court Awards Dr. Agunloye N10M Against EFCC for Defamation

On Wednesday, a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Kekemeke, awarded Dr. Olu Agunloye, a former Minister of Power, N10 million in damages against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for defamation.

The judgment was delivered in response to a N10 billion suit filed by Agunloye, who claimed that the EFCC had publicly labeled him as corrupt and involved in a N6 billion fraud. The court found that the EFCC's statements, which were published on its website, constituted defamation as they explicitly identified Agunloye and damaged his reputation.

Justice Kekemeke noted that the EFCC failed to prove the truth of its claims and that the agency's actions did not represent a fair investigation. The court ordered the EFCC to retract its statements and issue a public apology on its website and in two national newspapers.

The EFCC, represented by Dr. Wahab Shittu SAN, plans to appeal the decision, arguing that the case was premature as Agunloye's criminal charges remain unresolved.