Court declares EFCC’s wanted publication unlawful
The Federal High Court in Lagos has declared unlawful the publication of Mr Ufoma Immanuel as a “wanted” person in November 2025. Justice Dehinde Dipeolu delivered the judgment on February
The Federal High Court in Lagos has declared unlawful the publication of Mr Ufoma Immanuel as a “wanted” person in November 2025.
Justice Dehinde Dipeolu delivered the judgment on February 10 in a suit by Immanuel challenging the notice.
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 Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was in flagrant disobedience of the subsisting order of the FCT High Court and contrary to the clear provisions of the ACJA.
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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.
Justice Dipeolu held that the publication declaring him wanted amounted to an infringement of his constitutional rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement.
He ordered the Commission to retract and withdraw all publications declaring Immanuel wanted and to replace them with a public notice retracting the declaration.
The judge also directed the EFCC to pay N5 million as compensation for the infringement of his rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement and dignity.
The court’s decision reinforces the obligation of authorities to comply with existing court processes and to act within the bounds of constitutional and statutory safeguards during enforcement actions.
