Kano businessman declared wanted over ‘$1.9m fraud’ threatens to sue EFCC for ‘defamation’

Rabiu Tijjani, a businessman from Kano state, has threatened to take legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly defaming him.

The EFCC had issued a publication declaring Tijjani wanted over an alleged $1.9 million fraud.

The anti-graft agency said the businessman is being sought in connection with a case of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, and money laundering amounting to $1,931,700.12

Reacting to the development, Tijanni described the publication as defamatory, saying he is the aggrieved party in the business arrangement but now being labelled an offender.

The businessman, who said he currently resides in the UAE, described the transaction at the centre of the allegation as a legitimate business deal with one Ifeanyi Ezeokolu, valued at over $77 million and carried out across 12 months.

“I reside in the United Arab Emirates where I conduct my business. Ifeanyi would send naira to me and I would return the dollar equivalent. These transactions were done using his eleven registered companies,” he said.

He claimed that after reconciling their financial records, it was discovered that Ifeanyi had been overpaid.

According to him, efforts to resolve the matter proved difficult, prompting him to notify the Department of State Services (DSS), which suggested an independent audit.

“I reached out to the DSS. Both sides were interrogated and the advice was to hire an external auditor. Despite this, Ifeanyi later took the DSS to court claiming his rights were violated,” he added.

Tijanni said he subsequently learned that the matter had been transferred to the EFCC and that he had already sent representatives to engage with the commission.

Olumide Ajayi, the auditor appointed to review the transactions, was said to have confirmed that preliminary findings showed overpayments of more than $2 million to companies linked to Ifeanyi.

Ajayi reportedly noted that only nine out of the eleven companies involved submitted their financial records.

He added that he plans to visit the EFCC in Abuja on Monday to provide further clarification.