A Nigerian court has ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must apologise to a Dubai-based businessman after declaring him wanted without proper justification. The court said the commission acted outside the law and violated the businessman’s rights by publishing his name as a wanted suspect without following due legal steps.

According to the judgment, the EFCC failed to provide evidence showing that the businessman had ignored invitations or refused to cooperate with investigators. The court stressed that no agency has the power to label citizens as fugitives unless a valid court order or proper investigation supports such actions.

The ruling also stated that public announcements of guilt can damage a person’s reputation, especially when they live and work abroad. The judge emphasised that institutions must follow established procedures to avoid abusing their powers.

Following the judgment, the EFCC has been instructed to issue a formal public apology and remove the businessman’s name from its wanted list. Legal analysts say this decision reinforces the need for law-enforcement agencies to respect human rights and avoid unlawful publicity.