JUSTICE Peter Kekemeke of the FCT High Court on Wednesday awarded N10 million in damages against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for defaming the reputation of former Minister of Power, Dr Olu Agunloye.
The judge found the commission guilty of defamation while delivering judgment in a N10billion suit filed against the EFCC by Agunloye.
Agunloye claimed that the publication on the commission’s Website and X (formerly Twitter) handle, entitled “EFCC arraigns Agunloye over $6billion fraud”, damaged his reputation.
Agunloye had, through his counsel, Adeola Adedipe SAN, suit marked FCT/HC/CV/1199/2024, claimed that the EFCC caused harmed his reputation.
He added that he (Agunloye) was said to be a corrupt and fraudulent individual through a post published on its official website and other allied online platforms, with the caption, “EFCC arraigns Agunloye over $6billion fraud”.
Delivering judgment, Justice Kekemeke held that there were elements of defamation in the posts.
The judge held that in the instant case, the contentious publication is in permanent form, adding that Agunloye’s name was mentioned.
The court further held that EFCC’s sole witness in the case, Assistant Commissioner of Police Umar Babangida, inspite of the fact that he initially denied knowledge of the said publication, later owned up and admitted that it was from the defendant’s media department.
He held that the case before him does not challenge EFCC’s power to investigate economic and financial crime as claimed by the defendant.
“Having gone through the charge in the criminal case against the claimant before an FCT high court in Apo, there is nowhere in it that claimed fraud, contrary to the EFCC publication.
“The issue of fraud is not in any of the exhibits tendered before the court in the course of hearing the case. The EFCC failed to prove the truth in the said publication. That is not fair and does not represent the court’s proceedings,” the judge held adding that the EFCC was not a news agency but an investigative agency.
Justice Kekemeke held that the commission knew that Agunloye was not involved in a fraud of six billion Naira.
The court declared that the contentious publication on EFCC official website and X handle as false and defamatory.
The judge ordered the commission to retract the publication and offer public apology on its website and two other national dailies.
The court further ordered a perpetual injunction restraining EFCC from defaming the former minister.
Reacting to the judgment in an interview with newsmen, counsel for the EFCC, Dr Wahab Shittu SAN, declared the commission will appeal the judgment.
“Though the court has made it pronouncement, the case is premature as the claimant’s criminal charge is yet to be concluded and judgment delivered,” he said. (NAN)
