The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama, has found the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) liable for defaming former Minister of Power, Dr Olu Agunloye, over a social media publication linking him to an alleged $6 billion fraud.

Justice Peter Kekemeke, in a judgment delivered yesterday, held that the anti-graft agency’s publication on its official website and X (formerly Twitter) handle, titled “EFCC arraigns Agunloye over $6 billion fraud,” was false, defamatory, and injurious to the former minister’s reputation.

The court also awarded N10 million in damages against the EFCC and ordered the commission to retract the publication and publish an unreserved apology on its website and in two national newspapers.

Agunloye had instituted the suit, marked FCT/HC/CV/1199/2024, through his counsel, Adeola Adedipe, seeking N1 billion in general and exemplary damages.

He argued that the EFCC’s publication portrayed him as corrupt and fraudulent, thereby damaging his reputation.

In his judgment, Justice Kekemeke outlined the essential ingredients of defamation, namely that a statement must be published in a permanent form, refer to the claimant, and lower the person’s reputation in the estimation of reasonable members of society.

The judge held that all the elements were established in the case, noting that the publication was permanent, specifically identified Agunloye, and contained allegations unsupported by the criminal charges filed against him.

MEANWHILE, the EFCC, yesterday, arraigned the immediate past Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC), Ahmed Dikko, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over an alleged multi-million-naira money laundering scheme linked to contractors of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

Dikko was docked before Justice Inyang Ekwo on a 12-count charge bordering on money laundering, unlawful possession of proceeds of crime and concealment of illicit funds.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The EFCC also listed Masterpiece Projects & Investment Limited as the Second Defendant in the case.

According to the anti-graft agency, Dikko allegedly received and retained funds traced to contractors handling projects for PHRC and used part of the money to acquire a high-value property in Abuja outside the banking system, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

When the case came up yesterday, EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment and that the prosecution was ready to proceed.