A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has issued an interim order stopping the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting or harassing Alhaji Rabiu Tijjani, a Dubai-based Nigerian businessman, over alleged involvement in a $1.9 million money laundering case.

The court order, granted on July 21, 2025, by Justice H. Buhari, followed an ex parte motion filed by Tijjani’s legal team. The motion sought to protect Tijjani’s fundamental rights under Sections 35 and 46 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.

The EFCC and one Mr. Ifeanyi Ezeokoli were listed as respondents in the case.

In the ruling, Justice Buhari clearly restrained the EFCC from taking any form of enforcement action against Tijjani until the court hears the full case. “An interim order restraining the commission or its agents… from arresting, detaining, harassing, [or] arraigning the applicant… is hereby granted,” the judge ruled.

The matter has been adjourned to September 18, 2025, for hearing on the substantive motion.

EFCC Declares Tijjani Wanted

Before the court ruling, the EFCC had on July 11 declared Tijjani wanted, alleging that he was involved in laundering over $1.9 million through suspicious foreign exchange transactions. The anti-graft agency accused him of ignoring multiple invitations for questioning.

In response, Tijjani dismissed the EFCC's claims as false and damaging. He insisted the transactions in question—worth over $77 million—were legitimate forex dealings with Mr. Ezeokolu, the second respondent in the case.

“My dealings with Mr. Ezeokolu were strictly business transactions within legal bounds,” Tijjani said. “The EFCC’s allegations are misleading and aimed at damaging my name and business reputation.”

With the interim court order now in effect, the EFCC is legally barred from taking any further steps against Tijjani until the court rules on the main case in September.

Legal experts say the case could set an important precedent in how Nigerian authorities handle cross-border business transactions and the rights of citizens abroad.

Stay with us for updates as the legal battle unfolds.