A High Court sitting in Warri has overturned cybercrime charges against Mr. Julius Oluwafunmisho Okedele and ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to publicly apologize for including his name in a financial fraud case without his knowledge.
In Charge No. FHC/WR/110C/2019, filed on December 2, 2019, the EFCC had accused Akegor Godbless Omamuyovwi and two other individuals (tried in absentia) of cybercrimes and internet fraud. Mr. Okedele, a bureau de change operator, was one of the individuals charged in absentia, despite having no prior notification or involvement in the case.
Okedele had engaged in legitimate foreign exchange transactions with Akegor Godbless Omamuyovwi between 2018 and 2019 as part of his business. After being invited by the EFCC’s Edo State office in Benin on December 5, 2019, Okedele cooperated fully with the investigation, providing evidence that cleared him of any wrongdoing. He was released from further inquiry on December 10, 2019.
However, unbeknownst to Okedele, the EFCC continued prosecuting the case, listing him as a fugitive on the charge sheet and publishing the charges and court ruling on its website and other media platforms. This led to severe reputational damage, including visa denials from the Canadian and United States embassies, which labeled him a fraudster and fugitive.
In a landmark ruling on January 31, 2025, the Federal High Court in Suit Nos: FHC/WR/CS/104/2024 set aside its earlier judgment in Charge No: FHC/WR/110C/2019, striking out Okedele’s name from the charge sheet. The court ruled that his constitutional right to a fair hearing had been violated, infringing on his fundamental human rights as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
The court further directed the EFCC to issue a public apology in a widely circulated national newspaper, retracting the criminal accusations against Okedele within 10 days of the judgment. The EFCC was also ordered to provide proof of the publication to the court.
Despite the court’s ruling, the EFCC has yet to comply with the directive, leaving Okedele and his family to grapple with the ongoing consequences of the false accusations. The certified true copy of the judgment has been served at the EFCC’s offices in Benin and Abuja, but the agency has remained silent on the matter.
This case highlights the importance of due process and the protection of individuals’ rights, even in the pursuit of justice.
