EFCC ignores court ruling six months after businessman’s acquittal
Six months after the Lagos State High Court acquitted the Chief Executive Officer of Rianol Energy, Mark Obisesan, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has reportedly failed to release his confiscated belongings as directed by the court.
The EFCC’s Lagos zonal office had arrested Obisesan for possession of a suspected fake traveller’s cheque worth $10,000.
He was arrested alongside Olumide McIntouch, Bolaji Bakare, and Goodluck Bazunu, who were co-defendants in the case.
In September 2024, after a five-year-long legal battle, Justice I. O. Ijelu struck out all 11 charges against them, stating that the agency failed to prove its case or link the defendants to the alleged offences.
He further ruled that the EFCC failed to substantiate its claims, describing its investigation as “haphazard and woeful.”
Throughout the trial, Obisesan maintained his innocence, accusing the agency of wasting state resources on a case “they knew had no merit but pursued out of ego.”
Despite the court dismissing the case, the EFCC has reportedly continued to infringe on Obisesan’s rights and has yet to take steps to clear his name.
In a letter dated September 30, 2024 addressed to the EFCC, Obisesan’s legal counsel formally requested the removal of online publications, pictures, and videos of the defendants.
The letter read, “We hereby formally request that all publications, including pictures and videos circulated online by the Commission concerning Our Client since the inception of this Charge, be immediately taken down from the Commission’s website and any other associated platforms or media.”
However, checks by Sunday PUNCH revealed that the agency had not removed the accusatory posts against Obisesan, many of which remain on its website despite repeated requests from his legal team.
In a letter, Obisesan’s legal counsel demanded that the EFCC comply with the court order to return his confiscated belongings, including a black iPhone X, credit and debit cards, HP laptops, a red Ferrari, and a Samsung X5.
The letter read, “Following the judgment of the Honourable Justice I. O. Ijelu of the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja Judicial Division, delivered on the 26th of September 2024, which found Our Client innocent of the charges and further discharged and acquitted him, we hereby request the release and return of all properties confiscated during the investigation and trial.”
Speaking to Sunday PUNCH about the case, EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale insisted that the commission always obeys court orders.
He said Obisesan should consult his lawyer to determine the true status of the matter.
“As a commission, we always obey court orders. Our executive chairman is a lawyer, and he respects the rule of law. Let Mr Obisesan check with his lawyer whether the commission has appealed the judgment or not.
“I am sure the case has been appealed; he should find out the status of the matter,” Oyewale said.
An X user, Demola of Lagos (@OmoGbajaBiamila), who shared the court documents and letters, described the case as a reflection of systemic injustice in Nigeria.
He wrote, “A country where you can get justice from the courts, yet the prosecuting institution refuses to obey court orders.
“From 2019 to 2024, this man endured the harrowing ordeal of seeking justice over a false accusation made up by the EFCC. Five years of struggle—and when he finally gets justice, the EFCC refuses to return his belongings.”
Another X user, Thεό Abu (@TheoAbuAgada), posted, “What’s their excuse for not returning confiscated items and deleting the malicious post?”
Sharing a similar experience, an X user, Adéshínà (@de_shinor), noted, “There is this YouTuber who has the same story. I can’t confirm whether he has recovered his assets.”
