Kano Businessman Threatens Lawsuit Against EFCC Over $1.9M Fraud Allegation
Rabiu Auwalu Tijjani, a 43-year-old international businessman from Kano, has vowed to sue the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly tarnishing his reputation by declaring him wanted on Friday, July 11, 2025, over a $1.9 million money laundering and fraud allegation.
Auwalu insists the accusation stems from a legitimate $77 million currency exchange deal with Ifeanyi Ezeokolu, which he claims left him overpaid and aggrieved.
Addressing the allegations, Auwalu stated: “I am a businessman resident in the United Arab Emirates. When Ifeanyi contacted me for a transaction, he would forward naira to me while I sent back the dollar equivalent.
The entire transaction volume was over $77 million, conducted with Ifeanyi’s eleven companies. At some point, we discovered that he had been overpaid. After checking our records, we contacted him, but he began to drag his feet.”
Auwalu explained that he reported the issue to the Department of State Services (DSS), which summoned both parties and recommended an independent auditor to reconcile the accounts. “Following the DSS intervention, Ifeanyi became uncooperative and even took the DSS to court over alleged rights violations,” he added, noting he later learned the matter was with the EFCC and sent a legal representative to engage with the agency.
The EFCC, however, defended its actions. Spokesperson Dele Oyewale stated: “As a responsible law enforcement agency, we explore every legal avenue to reach our suspects.
It was only after he failed to honour our invitation, and we waited for a reasonable length of time without hearing from him, that we declared him wanted.
The energy he is expending defending the indefensible – if he had channelled it into honouring our invitation, he wouldn’t be in this situation. We don’t just declare suspects wanted; there are procedures, and we followed them all. He should simply come to our office.”
The dispute, now a legal standoff, highlights ongoing tensions between Nigeria’s anti-graft agency and individuals accused of financial crimes, raising questions about due process and reputational damage. Auwalu plans to visit the EFCC’s Abuja office on Monday, July 14, 2025, to clarify the matter, as reported on X.