An international businessman and indigene of Kano State, Rabiu Auwalu Tijjani, has vowed to take legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly defaming him by declaring him wanted for money laundering.
Tijjani, a 43-year-old native of Dala Local Government Area in Kano, was declared wanted by the EFCC on Friday over allegations of obtaining money under false pretence and laundering $1.9 million. However, he insists the transaction in question was a legitimate business deal with one Ifeanyi Ezeokolu, valued at $77 million and conducted over a period of one year.
In a phone interview from Dubai, where he resides, Tijjani expressed shock at the EFCC’s announcement, maintaining that he was the victim in the business dealings, not a fraudster.
He explained that the transaction with Ezeokolu, which took place between January and December 2023, involved currency exchanges. “Ifeanyi would send naira to me, and I would send the dollar equivalent,” he said, adding that the dealings were conducted through eleven of Ifeanyi’s companies.
Tijjani said discrepancies emerged after reconciling the accounts and discovering that Ifeanyi had been overpaid. “When we discovered the overpayment, we reached out to Ifeanyi, but he became evasive,” he noted.
Following the dispute, Tijjani said he alerted the Department of State Services (DSS), which advised that an independent auditor be engaged to review the transactions. Despite this, Ifeanyi allegedly refused further cooperation and instead filed a legal case against the DSS, claiming a violation of his rights.
Tijjani added that while the case is currently before a high court, he also sent a formal representation to the EFCC to clarify the issue.
Olumide Ajayi, the auditor hired to reconcile the accounts, confirmed that preliminary findings showed Ifeanyi’s companies had been overpaid by over $2 million. “Out of the eleven companies involved, records for only nine were submitted. Two key companies—GRE International Company for Trading and Supplies, and Seagate Maritime Limited—are yet to provide their records, despite handling over $50 million in transactions,” Ajayi said, adding that he would meet with EFCC officials in Abuja on Monday.
When contacted, Ifeanyi Ezeokolu declined to comment, stating that the matter is already being handled by the EFCC.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said Tijjani was declared wanted after the Commission exhausted all avenues to reach him without success.
