Dr. Henry Akinduro, CEO of Global Signature Hotel and Total Grace Group Limited, has filed a N5 billion lawsuit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing the agency of violating his fundamental human rights after it declared him wanted in connection with fraud allegations.
The EFCC, in a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on October 11, 2024, listed Akinduro as “wanted,” following a fraud complaint lodged by one Mr. Femi Olushakin. However, Akinduro claims that this action was taken without proper legal justification or a court order.
Akinduro, through his legal counsel, Olakekan Ojo (SAN), submitted the lawsuit on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Lagos, accusing the EFCC of acting outside its jurisdiction by declaring him wanted in what should be treated as a civil, contractual dispute.
In a statement released by his legal team, it was argued that the fraud accusation stems from a contractual disagreement between Akinduro and Olushakin related to an investment deal, which is already the subject of an ongoing civil court case (Suit No: I/875/2024). The statement emphasized that this matter does not warrant criminal action and that the EFCC’s public notice has tarnished Akinduro’s reputation unjustly.
“Our client sees this declaration by the EFCC as a baseless attack on his character and an unlawful attempt to criminalize a commercial dispute,” the legal team said, further explaining that Akinduro had always acted through appropriate legal channels to address the issues between him and Olushakin.
The lawsuit accuses the EFCC of harassment and misusing its authority by treating a civil dispute as a criminal case. Akinduro’s legal team has urged the court to clarify that the disagreement is strictly commercial and contractual in nature, and not a criminal matter.
On the other side, Olushakin has claimed that Akinduro owes significant sums in unpaid returns on the investment, further complicating the ongoing legal battle between the two.
Akinduro continues to maintain his innocence, reaffirming his faith in the judicial system and insisting that he should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. His legal team vowed to fight what they see as malicious allegations and to restore Akinduro’s reputation.
The statement concluded, “Our client is confident that the judicial process will vindicate him and expose the fraud allegations as groundless and ill-motivated attempts to damage his hard-earned reputation.”