EFCC: Federal High Court declares “wanted” publication on Ufoma Immanuel unlawful

A “wanted” notice issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Ufoma Immanuel has been declared unlawful by a Federal High Court.

The court delivered the judgment in a suit filed by Mr. Immanuel challenging the publication issued in November 2025.

In the action, Mr. 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 commission’s action was in flagrant disobedience of the subsisting order of the FCT High Court and contrary to the clear provisions of the ACJA.

It declared that the EFCC 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, and that the publication declaring him wanted amounted to an infringement of his constitutional rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement.

Justice Dipeolu in the judgement ordered the Commission to retract and withdraw all publications declaring Immanuel wanted and to replace them with a public notice retracting the declaration.

The commission was also directed 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 subsisting court processes and to act within the bounds of constitutional and statutory safeguards in the course of enforcement actions.

With the judgment delivered, the matter stands concluded subject to compliance with the Court’s orders.

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