Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday dismissed a N5bn suit brought by 110 alleged internet fraudsters against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for lack of merit.
The court, having heard arguments from both parties, ruled to dismiss the suit due to the applicants’ failure to provide proof of unlawful detention.
The EFCC and its Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, were sued by applicants in a case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/80/2025.
The applicants are Zhang Xiaowen, Liu Zhiwei, Chen Yeqiu, Lan Shunbin, Abubakar Hassan, Igwe Ozioma, Gabriel Shimlumun, Abdulmuminu Usman, Olamide Olatoye, Jeremiah Abele, Asule James, Bitrus Joseph, Odeh Abel, Jathan Jayock, Jackson Samson, Isiaq Olanrewaju, Adejor Isah, Salihu Suleiman, Joseph Ojoma, Tanko Isah, Omoyele Ebenezer, Olisakwe Chieme, Ohikwo Fatima Musa, Faith Agada, Opara Cynthia, Blessing Thomas and Rachel Habila.
Persecondnews had reported that authorities arrested the group, which included four Chinese nationals, on January 9 in a building in Abuja’s Katampe District.
The agency reported that the arrests were made following intelligence suggesting the individuals were involved in fraudulent activities, including internet scams.
According to the anti-graft body, the Chinese nationals recruited Nigerians to join a cryptocurrency scheme that was allegedly fraudulent in nature.
The EFCC stated that the suspects, based in Nigeria, used VPNs to carry out fraudulent activities in the UK, masquerading as hoteliers to deceive their victims.
The applicants, following their arrest, hired a legal team led by Mr. Ishaka Dikko(SAN) to enforce their fundamental human rights.
They alleged that the EFCC infringed upon their rights to dignity, personal liberty, and fair hearing, as protected under Sections 34, 35, 36, 43, and 46 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
They requested the court to rule that their detention, spanning from January 9 to 16, exceeded the constitutionally prescribed period and was therefore unlawful.
They requested compensation of N5 billion for the harm suffered during their detention.
The applicants also requested the court to declare that the seizure of their international passports—numbers E55480652, EL6128848, E91567245, and E99903655—during their detention was unlawful and contrary to Sections 36, 43, and 44 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
According to their lawyer, the evidence before the court demonstrated that the EFCC had secured a remand order on January 10 and later renewed it on January 24, after the initial order had expired.
In response, Justice Omotosho held that the remand orders were lawful, given the claims that the applicants’ conduct threatened national security.
The judge pointed out that the EFCC’s decision to grant administrative bail indicated that the agency had no plans to detain the applicants indefinitely.
The court determined that the EFCC could not be held accountable for the applicants’ failure to meet the conditions set for their administrative bail.
Justice Omotosho threw out the fundamental rights enforcement suit, directing the applicants to answer to the allegations that posed a threat to national security.
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