Dr. Henry Akinduro, the Chief Executive Officer of Global Signature Hotel and Total Grace Group Limited, has filed a N5 billion lawsuit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for declaring him wanted, which he claims infringes on his fundamental human rights.
The EFCC made the declaration on October 11, 2024, via its official X account (formerly Twitter), linking Akinduro to fraud allegations lodged by one Mr. Femi Olushakin. In response, Akinduro has challenged the commission’s actions, asserting that the EFCC’s declaration was made without judicial oversight or proper legal procedures.
Akinduro’s legal team, led by prominent lawyer Olakekan Ojo (SAN), filed the lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday. The suit argues that the EFCC acted unlawfully by declaring Akinduro wanted without a court order, constitutional safeguards, or any judicial intervention.
In a press statement, Akinduro’s legal team described the fraud allegations as baseless, asserting that they stem from a contractual dispute between Akinduro and Olushakin. The dispute, they argued, is a civil matter already before the courts (Suit No: I/875/2024), and has nothing to do with any criminal conduct.
“Our client views the EFCC’s online declaration as a serious blow to his reputation, and believes it to be a malicious and unjustified attack,” the statement read. It emphasized that Akinduro has addressed the matter through proper legal channels rather than engaging in fraudulent behavior.
Akinduro claims that the EFCC’s actions amount to harassment and misuse of state resources, urging the court to clarify that the dispute is civil and not criminal. The ongoing legal battle also involves Olushakin’s counterclaim for alleged investment returns, further complicating the situation.
Maintaining his innocence, Akinduro has called for a fair legal process and stressed that he is presumed innocent until proven otherwise. His legal team remains committed to addressing what they describe as false and malicious accusations driven by the business disagreement.
“Our client has always responded responsibly through legal means and correspondences, and will continue to do so,” the statement continued. “We assert that the fraud claims are entirely groundless, and we expect the judicial process to vindicate Dr. Akinduro.”
The legal team also highlighted that the contractual disagreements were already being addressed by the court before the EFCC’s wanted declaration. They reiterated that the fraud allegations are a ploy to harm Akinduro’s reputation and business interests.
“Our client remains confident in the judicial process, and we trust that justice will prevail,” the statement concluded.
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