Former Power Minister Olu Agunloye Wins Defamation Judgment Against EFCC

Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory High Court ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) defamed former Minister of Power Dr Olu Agunloye with a headline alleging a “$6 billion fraud”. Justice Peter Kekemeke found the EFCC’s online publication false and defamatory, ordering a public retraction on the agency’s website and two national newspapers, a perpetual injunction against further defamatory statements, and awarding Agunloye N10 million in damages.

The court noted that the EFCC’s sole witness admitted the offending post originated from the commission’s media department, and that the criminal charge against Agunloye contained no fraud allegation. EFCC counsel Dr Wahab Shittu said the agency will appeal, arguing the defamation suit is premature while the criminal case remains pending.