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The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has granted an interim order restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from arresting or harassing a Dubai-based Nigerian businessman, Alhaji Rabiu Tijjani, declared wanted by the commission over alleged $1.9m money laundering charges.
The two respondents in the matter are EFCC and one Ifeanyi Ezeokoli.
The order, granted on July 21 and obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday, was issued by Justice H. Buhari in response to an ex parte motion filed by the applicant’s counsel on July 16, 2025, seeking the protection of Tijjani’s fundamental rights to liberty and freedom of movement as enshrined in Sections 35 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution.
After reviewing the application, Justice Buhari granted an interim order restraining the EFCC from inviting, arresting, detaining, harassing, or prosecuting Tijjani, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion.
“An interim order restraining the commission or its agents, servants, privies, officer arresting, detaining, harassing, arraigning thẹ or relating to the complaint of the second respondent motion on notice.
“And such further others as this honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of the case.
“Motion ex-parte dated 14th day of July and filed on 16th day of July, 2025 is granted as prayed,” the ruling reads in part.
The case was adjourned to September 18, 2025, for further proceedings.
The EFCC declared Tijjani wanted over alleged money laundering involving $1,931,700.12.
The declaration was made in a notice signed by Head of Media and Publicity at the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, dated July 11, 2025.
Reacting, he threatened legal action against the EFCC for allegedly damaging his reputation by declaring him wanted over a $1.9m money laundering allegation.
Auwalu described the allegation as false, insisting that the transaction in question was a legitimate business deal involving currency exchanges with one Ifeanyi Ezeokolu, totalling over $77m across a year.
