Court nullifies declaration of businessman wanted, orders retraction

A Federal High Court has nullified the declaration of a businessman, Ufoma Immanuel, as wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ordering its retraction.

This followed a suit filed by the businessman challenging the publication of a “wanted” notice issued in November 2025.

In the action, Immanuel contended that the notice was published at a time when related issues were already pending before a court of competent jurisdiction.

The court concluded that the action of the EFCC was in flagrant disobedience of the subsisting order of the FCT High Court and contrary to the clear provisions of the ACJA.

It declared that the commission lacks the statutory power to restrain the applicant’s fundamental rights through its publication of November 19, 2025 in the face of a subsisting court order, and that the publication declaring him wanted amounted to an infringement of his constitutional rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement.