The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday dismissed a N5 billion lawsuit filed by 110 alleged internet fraudsters against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for lack of merit.
Justice James Omotosho ruled that the applicants failed to prove their claims of unlawful detention after hearing arguments from both sides. The applicants had sued the EFCC and its Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede.
The applicants, including four Chinese nationals, were arrested on January 9 in Abuja’s Katampe District. The EFCC said they were involved in internet fraud, including cryptocurrency scams, targeting victims in the UK. The agency claimed the Chinese nationals recruited Nigerians to help with the scams while operating from Nigeria using virtual private networks (VPNs).
After their arrest, the applicants hired a legal team, led by Ishaka Dikko (SAN), to seek enforcement of their fundamental human rights. They accused the EFCC of violating their rights, including dignity, personal liberty, and fair hearing, as guaranteed by the Constitution. They argued their detention from January 9 to 16 was unlawful and sought ₦5 billion in damages.
The applicants also claimed the seizure of their international passports was unconstitutional. Their lawyer argued the EFCC had not properly renewed the remand order after it expired on January 24.
However, Justice Omotosho ruled that the EFCC’s actions were legally justified due to the national security threat posed by the applicants. He also noted that the EFCC’s decision to grant administrative bail showed there was no intention to detain them indefinitely. The judge further stated that the applicants’ failure to meet bail conditions was not the EFCC’s responsibility.
The court dismissed the lawsuit and advised the applicants to respond to the allegations against them, which were linked to national security concerns.