EFCC violated my fundamental human right for declaring me wanted – Akinduro

One of the suspects recently declared wanted for alleged financial fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Henry Akinduro, has claimed that the commission violated his fundamental human rights.

Akinduro stated that he is challenging the EFCC’s actions in declaring him wanted.

Newspot recalls that the EFCC, a few days ago, declared Akinduro, the Chief Executive Officer of Total Grace Group Limited, wanted in connection with a fraud accusation against him. https://dailypost.ng/2024/10/12/alleged-fraud-efcc-declares-oil-mogul-bolaji-akinduro-wanted/

Akinduro, in a suit filed on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Lagos, told the court that the anti-corruption agency declared him wanted without judicial intervention, recourse to constitutional safeguards, or a court order.

In a statement issued by his counsel, Olalekan Ojo, Akinduro claimed that the fraud allegation against him is baseless and ill-motivated.

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Ojo, in the statement made available to Newspot on Thursday, argued that the petition against his client was simply an attempt to criminalize a contractual disagreement stemming from a business arrangement with one Mr. Femi Olushakin.

He added that the matter was already before the courts when the EFCC declared Akinduro wanted.

Ojo maintained that the EFCC’s statement declaring his client wanted must have caused grave concern to Akinduro, his friends, and his business associates.

He said, “Our client considers this online publication detrimental to his reputation and believes it to be an unjustified attack by the EFCC.

“While we acknowledge that the said online publication must have caused grave concern to our client’s friends and business associates, we consider it imperatively necessary to set the record straight and demonstrate that the fraud allegations are trumped-up charges aimed at causing incalculable damage to the hard-earned but richly deserved reputation of Dr. Henry Akinduro.

“In Suit No: I/875/2024, Total Grace Group Ltd and Dr. Henry Akinduro v. Femi Olushakin, our client claimed, inter alia, a declaration that the relationship between the claimants and the defendant is civil and contractual in nature, and that the continuous threat, harassment, and molestation of the claimants by the defendant through the use of state security apparatus over the said disagreement is wrongful and unlawful.

“Our client, Henry Akinduro, has always responded through tenable correspondences, letters, and further replies to legal processes via our office, showing his sense of responsibility and seriousness towards the investment agreement between them.

“Our client has taken further legal actions towards establishing with compelling finality that the fraud allegations made against him are unfounded, groundless, baseless, and ill-motivated. It is pertinent to stress that our client is presumed innocent by constitutional fiat until the contrary is proved or established.”