Rabiu Auwalu Tijjani, an international businessman based in the United Arab Emirates, has vowed to sue the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for defamation after being declared wanted over alleged money laundering.
The 43-year-old Kano native denied the accusations, describing them as false and damaging to his reputation.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Tijjani explained that the case stemmed from a legitimate business transaction with Ifeanyi Ezeokolu, totalling $77 million over a year.
The EFCC had on Friday declared him wanted for allegedly obtaining $1.9 million under false pretences and money laundering. Tijjani expressed shock at the agency’s action, stating that he was the victim in the transaction, not the perpetrator.
According to him, the business dealings began in January 2023 and continued until December 2023, involving transactions where Ezeokolu would send naira payments, and Tijjani would provide the dollar equivalent.
“The total volume of transactions with Ezeokolu’s eleven companies exceeded $77 million,” Tijjani stated. However, discrepancies later emerged when records showed Ezeokolu had been overpaid.
“When we discovered the overpayment, we reached out to him, but he began avoiding resolution,” Tijjani claimed.
He criticised the EFCC for portraying him as a fraudster without a proper investigation, insisting that the matter was a civil business dispute rather than a criminal case.
Tijjani emphasised his readiness to pursue legal action to clear his name, arguing that the EFCC’s public declaration had unjustly tarnished his reputation. The case highlights growing concerns about the anti-graft agency’s handling of financial disputes involving legitimate business operations.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
