- A court cleared Julius Okedele of cybercrime charges.
- The EFCC was ordered to issue a public apology.
- The agency has not yet responded to the ruling.
A Federal High Court in Warri has overturned cybercrime charges against Mr. Julius Oluwafunmisho Okedele and ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to issue a public apology for wrongly implicating him in a fraud case.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the case, originally filed under Charge No. FHC/WR/110C/2019, accused Akegor Godbless Omamuyovwi and two others of internet fraud.
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However, Mr. Okedele, a bureau de change operator, was unknowingly listed as a fugitive despite never being notified or arraigned.
Mr. Okedele had engaged in foreign exchange transactions with Omamuyovwi between 2018 and 2019 but had no involvement in cybercrime.
He voluntarily cooperated with EFCC investigations in December 2019, after which the agency cleared him of wrongdoing. However, the EFCC continued prosecuting him in absentia and published his name in official documents, damaging his reputation.
He only became aware of the allegations when he saw his name listed on the EFCC website. This misinformation led to severe personal and professional losses, including visa denials from Canada and the U.S.
On January 31, 2025, the court ruled in favor of Okedele in Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/104/2024, declaring that his right to a fair hearing had been violated.
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The EFCC was ordered to retract its accusations and publish an apology in a national newspaper within 10 days.
Despite the court’s directive, the EFCC has yet to issue a statement or confirm compliance with the order, raising concerns about the agency’s response.
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