Justice Peter Kekemeke of the FCT High Court on Wednesday awarded N10 million in damages against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for defaming the reputation of former Minister of Power, Dr Olu Agunloye.

The judge found the commission guilty of defamation while delivering judgment in a N10billion suit filed against the EFCC by Agunloye.

Agunloye claimed that the publication on the commission’s Website and X (formerly Twitter) handle, entitled “EFCC arraigns Agunloye over $6billion fraud”, damaged his reputation.

Agunloye had, through his counsel, Adeola Adedipe SAN, suit marked FCT/HC/CV/1199/2024, claimed that the EFCC caused harmed his reputation.

He added that he (Agunloye) was said to be a corrupt and fraudulent individual through a post published on its official website and other allied online platforms, with the caption, “EFCC arraigns Agunloye over $6billion fraud”.

Delivering judgment , Justice Kekemeke held that there were elements of defamation in the posts.

The judge held that in the instant case, the contentious publication is in permanent form, adding that Agunloye’s name was mentioned.

The court further held that EFCC’s sole witness in the case, Assistant Commissioner of Police Umar Babangida, inspite of the fact that he initially denied knowledge of the said publication, later owned up and admitted that it was from the defendant’s media department.

He held that the case before him does not challenge EFCC’s power to investigate economic and financial crime as claimed by the defendant.

“Having gone through the charge in the criminal case against the claimant before a FCT high court in Apo, there is no where in it that claimed fraud, contrary to the EFCC publication.

“The issue of fraud is not in any of the exhibits tendered before the court in the course of hearing the case.

”The EFCC failed to prove the truth in the said publication. That is not fair and does not represent the court’s proceedings,” the judge held.

He held that the EFCC was not a news agency but an investigative agency.

Justice Kekemeke held that the commission knew that Agunloye was not involved in a fraud of six billion Naira.

The court declared that the contentious publication on EFCC official website and X handle as false and defamatory.

The judge ordered the commission to retract the publication and offer public apology on its website and two other national dailies.

The court further ordered a perpetual injunction restraining EFCC from defaming the former minister.

Reacting to the judgment in an interview with newsmen, counsel for the EFCC, Dr Wahab Shittu SAN, declared the commission will appeal the judgment.

“Though the court has made it pronouncement, the case is premature as the claimant’s criminal charge is yet to be concluded and judgment delivered,” he said.(NAN)

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has directed security personnel not to hesitate in confronting armed bandits and terrorists, declaring that any operative who fails to neutralise criminals under the excuse of awaiting orders would be treated as collaborating with them.

Musa gave the charge on Wednesday in Sokoto State while commissioning 62 operational vehicles and security equipment worth ₦27.127 billion procured by the Sokoto State Government to strengthen security operations across the state.

“Once you are deployed, do not wait for any order from anybody to shoot any bandit or any terrorist,” the minister declared.

“Anybody who refuses to shoot or kill any bandit or terrorist in the name of waiting for an order, we will treat you like a bandit.”

The minister described the intervention as a demonstration of strategic leadership and praised Governor Ahmed Aliyu for consistently supporting security agencies with logistics and operational equipment.

“This event is not merely the unveiling of security assets. It is a demonstration of strategic leadership, responsible governance and our collective determination to strengthen the security architecture of Sokoto State and Nigeria as a whole,” he said.

Musa, who described himself as “a proud son of Sokoto,” said the state had remained one of the most peaceful in the country due to collaboration among the government, security agencies and residents.

He noted that the newly commissioned armoured vehicles and tactical equipment would improve operational mobility, intelligence gathering and force protection in the fight against banditry, terrorism and kidnapping.

The Minister of Defence, however, cautioned security personnel against neglecting the newly acquired assets.

“This equipment costs billions of naira. We don’t want to hand them over and then you throw them away or mishandle them. They must serve the purpose for which they were procured,” he said.

While urging officers to remain professional, Musa reminded them to protect innocent citizens while taking decisive action against criminals.

“You are not to go there and extort or harass the people. You are there to protect them and work with them to eliminate bandits and terrorists operating within your area,” he added.

Earlier, Governor Ahmed Aliyu said the latest intervention formed part of his administration’s sustained investment in security since assuming office.

According to him, the state government procured bulletproof vehicles, Buffalo Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), 320 motorcycles, 3,200 security gadgets, 2,000 bulletproof helmets and vests, 200 night-vision goggles, thermal devices and other tactical equipment.

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“In all, we are distributing 62 vehicles and the security equipment highlighted above. These vehicles and security equipment cost the Sokoto State Government ₦27.127 billion,” the governor said.

Aliyu disclosed that the state had previously spent over ₦36 billion on security interventions, including operational vehicles, motorcycles, military and police barracks, the establishment of the Sokoto State Community Guard Corps and support for the Nigerian Air Force Base.

The governor also revealed that his administration had forwarded a bill to the State House of Assembly seeking stiffer penalties for informants aiding bandits.

“The bill is currently before the State House of Assembly and once it is passed, we will sign it without any further delay,” he said.

He added that the government had approved the establishment of a Command and Control Centre to enhance surveillance and coordination of security operations across the state.

Governor Aliyu appealed to residents to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies, stressing that defeating banditry requires a collective effort.

“Security is a collective responsibility and together we shall overcome every security challenge confronting our state,” he said.

Residents of Makurdi, the Benue State capital, have been thrown into mourning following the killing of Professor Gabriel Nyityo, a senior lecturer in the Department of History at Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, formerly known as Benue State University.

The professor was reportedly shot dead by the unidentified gunmen who invaded his residence in the Adaka area, behind the Makurdi Industrial Layout, in the early hours of Wednesday.

Security sources said the assailants attacked the academic at about 3 a.m., fatally shooting him inside his home before fleeing the scene.

The killing has sent shockwaves through the university community, with colleagues and residents describing the late professor as a peaceful and respected scholar.

A lecturer at the university, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed grief over the incident.

“WE HEARD ABOUT THE news TODAY. IT IS SAD AND UNFORTUNATE. PROF. NYITYO IS A PEACE LOVING PERSON. I HEARD THAT THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AROUND 3 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY AT HIS RESIDENCE AT ADAKA. MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE. AMEN.”News

Following the attack, sympathisers were seen trooping to the deceased’s residence to commiserate with his family, while his remains have since been deposited in a mortuary.

Efforts to obtain an official reaction from the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the command’s spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, neither answered calls nor responded to enquiries on the incident as of the time of filing this report.