A High Court sitting in Warri has ruled in favor of Mr. Julius Oluwafunmisho Okedele, ordering the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to publicly apologize for wrongfully including his name in a financial fraud case.
In charge No. FHC/WR/110C/2019, filed on December 2, 2019, the EFCC charged Akegor Godbless Omamuyovwi and two others at the Federal High Court in Warri, accusing them of cybercrimes and internet fraud.
The main accused, Akegor Godbless Omamuyovwi, was prosecuted alongside two others, one of whom, Mr. Okedele, was allegedly tried in absentia—without his knowledge or any prior notification from the EFCC.
Mr. Okedele, a bureau de change operator, had conducted legitimate foreign exchange transactions with Omamuyovwi between 2018 and 2019. Following the EFCC’s investigation, he was invited to their Edo State office in Benin on December 5, 2019, where he cooperated fully.
After a second visit on December 10, 2019, the EFCC determined that there was no case against him and released him from further scrutiny.
However, unknown to him, the EFCC proceeded with the cybercrime charges in his absence, listing him as a fugitive on the charge sheet without informing him or granting him an opportunity to defend himself.
Even more concerning was the EFCC’s decision to publish the charge and judgment on its official website and in other media outlets, despite Mr. Okedele never being formally notified or represented in court.
This public disclosure severely damaged his reputation, leading to defamation and serious personal and professional losses.
The case took a shocking turn when Mr. Okedele discovered the allegations against him only through the EFCC’s website, which reported Omamuyovwi’s conviction.
As a result, he faced significant consequences, including visa denials from both the Canadian and United States embassies, as he was falsely labeled a fraudster and fugitive.
On January 31, 2025, in Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/104/2024, the Federal High Court ruled in favor of Mr. Okedele, setting aside its previous judgment in Charge No. FHC/WR/110C/2019 and striking out his name from the charge sheet.
The Court held that his constitutional right to a fair hearing had been violated, constituting a breach of his fundamental human rights under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Additionally, the Court ordered the EFCC to publish a public apology in a widely circulated national newspaper within 10 days of the ruling and provide proof of compliance.
Despite this directive, uncertainty lingers over whether the EFCC will comply, given its previous actions.
The continued circulation of the erroneous charges has left Mr. Okedele and his family facing ongoing challenges.
A certified true copy of the judgment has been served at the EFCC’s offices in Benin and Abuja, but as at the time of this report, the agency has yet to respond to the Court’s order.
