Court of Appeal Rules in Favor of Fidelity Bank in Rights Case

The Court of Appeal in Abuja overturned a Federal Capital Territory High Court decision that held Fidelity Bank Plc liable in a fundamental rights case involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). On 14 September 2026, a three-member panel led by Justice Adebukola Banjoko upheld Fidelity Bank’s appeal against the lower court’s ruling, which had awarded N10 million in costs to Michael Kundera for his alleged arrest and detention in May 2023.

The FCT High Court, presided over by Justice Peter Kekemeke, found that Kundera’s rights were violated. Fidelity Bank argued that it was not responsible for Kundera's rights infringement, as its petition to the EFCC concerned legal entities involved in a loan procurement order, not Kundera himself.

The appellate court agreed, stating there was no credible evidence of wrongdoing by the bank and that Kundera failed to prove his case. The original case involved Kundera's detention without charge from 15 to 16 May 2023.