The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Garki has nullified an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission report accusing lawyer Ted Iseghohi-Edwards of fraud in connection with the London-Paris Club refunds, holding that the 2024 report contradicted earlier investigations which had cleared him of wrongdoing.
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Justice Suleiman Belgore delivered the judgment on Tuesday in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Iseghohi-Edwards against the EFCC, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police and the Federal Government.
The lawyer challenged his arrest, detention and threats of further arrest or prosecution arising from the London-Paris Club refunds dispute and an EFCC document titled, “Re: Request for Investigation Report on London-Paris Club Matters.”
Justice Belgore held that the August 2024 EFCC report was designed to damage the applicant’s reputation and could not stand against earlier investigations conducted by the EFCC and the State Security Service in 2016 which had cleared him in relation to the matter.
The court faulted the anti-graft agency for producing another investigative report years after the earlier inquiries had been concluded, describing the later report as a contrivance intended to tarnish Iseghohi-Edwards’ image.
The judge also held that the respondents could not issue a fresh investigative report contradicting the conclusions of previous investigations which had exonerated the lawyer.
The dispute arose from Iseghohi-Edwards’ involvement in claims relating to the London-Paris Club refunds on behalf of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria.
Justice Belgore found that there was a valid contractual relationship between Iseghohi-Edwards and the Incorporated Trustees of ALGON, which engaged him to represent the 774 local government areas in matters connected with the refunds.
“There were negotiated terms of engagement between the Incorporated Trustees of ALGON and the applicant. These terms of engagement were renegotiated by parties in open court on September 15, 2016,” the judge held.
The court also examined 10 promissory notes issued to the lawyer following a mandamus order previously made against the Federal Government by the Federal High Court.
Justice Belgore held that the promissory notes were validly issued during the administration of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The judge criticised the Attorney-General of the Federation and the EFCC for subjecting judgments obtained by Iseghohi-Edwards to fresh investigations rather than challenging those decisions through the appellate process.
According to the court, where the respondents disagreed with judgments already delivered in favour of the lawyer, the appropriate legal step was to appeal rather than attempt to investigate the judicial decisions or their consequences.
The court also rejected the respondents’ position questioning the authenticity of the promissory notes.
In the end, Justice Belgore granted 20 of the 21 reliefs sought by Iseghohi-Edwards.
Among the orders made was an injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from further investigating matters concerning the London-Paris Club refunds that had already been adjudicated by competent courts.
The court further issued a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from petitioning against, inviting, arresting, harassing, interrogating, prosecuting or detaining Iseghohi-Edwards over the London-Paris Club refunds dispute.
The order also bars other actions against him arising from the same subject matter covered by the judgment.
During proceedings, EFCC counsel L.P. Apo explained that the commission’s 2024 report, which accused the lawyer of fraudulently obtaining judgments, followed a suit filed by Iseghohi-Edwards in the United States seeking the dematerialisation of the promissory notes.
The court nevertheless found in favour of Iseghohi-Edwards on 20 of his 21 claims and nullified the EFCC report.
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