Bolaji Akinduro, the executive chairman of Total Grace Oil and Gas Investment Limited, has filed a lawsuit against Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after the agency declared him wanted.
In the suit filed before a federal high court in Lagos, Akinduro, through his legal counsel, argues that the EFCC’s actions were illegal, lacking any court order or judicial oversight.
He is now seeking an order to remove his name from the commission’s wanted list, which has been published on both its website and social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter). He is also seeking N5 billion (approximately £8.5 million) in damages for reputational harm.
The EFCC had earlier accused Akinduro of obtaining money under false pretence and theft. However, Akinduro’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, states that the businessman had been cooperating with the EFCC and had informed them of his unavailability due to medical treatment overseas. Despite this, the EFCC proceeded to declare him wanted on October 11th.
Akinduro contends that the accusations stem from a civil contractual dispute with an individual named Femi Olushakin, which is still before the courts. He has also given the EFCC a 48-hour ultimatum to retract its notice and issue a public apology.
The businessman claims that the EFCC’s public notice has caused him significant personal and business harm. He says he remains committed to cooperating with the agency’s investigation once he is medically fit to travel back to Nigeria.