The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has awarded N10 million in damages against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for defaming Olu Agunloye, former minister of power, through a publication linking him to a $6 billion fraud allegation.
Justice Peter Kekemeke, while delivering judgment on Wednesday, held that the anti-graft agency’s publication on its official website and X (formerly Twitter) handle was defamatory and that the commission failed to establish the truth of the claims made against Agunloye.
The judgment followed a N10 billion defamation suit filed by Agunloye against the EFCC over a publication titled “EFCC arraigns Agunloye over $6 billion fraud”.
Agunloye, through his counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, argued that the publication portrayed him as a corrupt and fraudulent individual, thereby damaging his reputation.
Justice Kekemeke held that the publication contained elements of defamation, noting that it was made in a permanent form and specifically identified the former minister.
