Nigerian court awards N10 million damages against EFCC for defamation

The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has held the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) liable for defamation, awarding N10 million in damages to former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye. The ruling came after the EFCC published a libelous article on its social media platforms against Agunloye.

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EFCC failed to prove the truth in the said publication.

Justice Peter Kekemeke stated that the EFCC failed to prove the truth of its publication, describing the post as unfair and featuring a "sensational headline" against the former minister. Agunloye had sued the anti-graft agency for N1 billion in damages, arguing the article, titled "EFCC arraigns Agunloye over $6 billion fraud," damaged his reputation and integrity.

During the proceedings, the EFCC presented a witness who acknowledged the publication originated from the agency's media department. The judge emphasized that the EFCC is an investigative agency, not a news outlet, and that the details of the charges against Agunloye in his ongoing trial did not include fraud. The court ordered the EFCC to retract the post and issue an apology on its website and in two national newspapers, while also restraining the commission from further defaming the former minister.

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My father was a vegetarian, and I grew up practically vegetarian. So I said, we have to make a döner that tastes just like an original Berlin döner, not like seitan, but like from the spit. Our version is made from pea protein.

EFCC's lawyer, Wahab Shittu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, informed journalists that the commission intends to appeal the judgment.

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Though the court has delivered its judgement, we are definitely going to appeal the court’s decision.