A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has held that the declaration of Mr. Ufoma Immanuel as “wanted” by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was in flagrant disobedience of the subsisting order of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court.

Trial judge, Justice Dehinde Dipeolu, also held that the action of EFCC was contrary to the clear provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA.

Immanuel had, in the suit, challenged the publication of a “wanted” notice issued in November 2025 by the EFCC.

He contended that the notice was published at a time when related issues were already pending before a court of competent jurisdiction.

The court declared that the commission lacked the statutory power to restrain the applicant’s fundamental rights through its publication of November 19, 2025, and that the publication declaring him wanted amounted to an infringement of his constitutional rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement.

The judge 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.

Add TheNigeriaLawyer On Google News ______________________________________________________________________ ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR LAWYERS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE Reimagine your practice with the power of AI “...this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic.” — Ohio Books Ltd Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe, Esq., ACIArb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director, Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria. Bonus: Get a FREE eBook titled “How to Use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion” with every purchase.

How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌐 Website: www.benadigwe.com

Ebook Version: Access directly online at: https://selar.com/prv626

______________________________________________________________________ New Year Promo: Get Five Maritime Law Books For N150,000 — 63% Discount The promotion, which commenced on January 8 and runs until February 8, 2026, offers five core maritime law books authored by Dr. Emeka Akabogu, SAN, ordinarily valued at N405,000, for just N150,000 — a 63% discount. Interested buyers can place their orders through the following channels: Phone: 0704 329 3271 Online Store: https://paystack.shop/aa-bookstore Website: www.akabogulaw.com ______________________________________________________________________ [A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation ________________________________________________________________________ The Law And Practice Of Redundancy In Nigeria: A Practitioner’s Guide, Authored By A Labour & Employment Law Expert Bimbo Atilola _______________________________________________________________________