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Rabiu Auwalu Tijjani,
By Abdullahi Abubakar
Rabiu Tijjani, a Nigerian businessman based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), who was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged $1.9 million fraud is not taking it low as he sought an interim order from a federal high court in Kaduna, which issued an interim order restraining the EFCC from arresting or harassing him.
The order was given by H. Buhari, the presiding judge, while ruling on an ex parte application filed by Tijjani against the EFCC and another businessman, Ifeanyi Ezeokoli.
The EFCC had on July 11 declared Tijjani wanted over allegations of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, and laundering over $1.9 million.
Tijjani has denied all the allegations, describing the EFCC’s action as harmful to his reputation and a threat to his ongoing refinery project in Abuja.
In an affidavit submitted by his lawyer, Muhammad Zakariyya Dikko, Tijjani said he entered into a business deal with Ezeokoli in January 2022, involving the exchange of $76 million in Dubai for its naira equivalent in Nigeria.
Following reconciliation, Tijjani returned N26 million to Ezeokoli as an overpayment. However, he later discovered he had overpaid by more than $2 million due to accounting errors.
Tijjani reported the issue to the Department of State Services (DSS) after failed attempts to resolve the matter with Ezeokoli.
Both parties agreed to an independent audit, which reportedly uncovered fake addresses tied to companies involved in the transaction. The audit lasted six months due to the volume of documents reviewed.
According to the affidavit, Ezeokoli later became uncooperative and petitioned the EFCC’s Kaduna zonal office.
But Tijjani claimed this was done to shift attention from the DSS investigation and cover up the irregularities.
Tijjani’s lawyer stated that although documents were submitted to the EFCC through a representative, his client was never formally invited or contacted before the agency issued a public notice declaring him wanted.
He argued that the action violated Tijjani’s rights and caused reputational damage, leading to questions from his associates and a loss of investor confidence in his refinery project.
After reviewing the application, the court granted an interim order preventing the EFCC from inviting, arresting, detaining, harassing, or prosecuting Tijjani until the main case is heard.
The matter has been adjourned to September 18.
It would be recalled that the EFCC had on July 11, 2025 declared wanted the businessman.
EFCC wrote “RABIU AUWALU TIJJANI
EFCC | Wanted Person
“The public is hereby notified that the person whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of Conspiracy, Obtaining Money by False Pretence and Money Laundering to the tune of $1,931,700.12 (One Million Nine Hundred and Thirty One Thousand Seven Hundred United State of American Dollars and Twelve Cents).
“Rabiu, 43, is an indigene of Dala LGA of Kano State and his last known address is: 59, Murtala Muhammed Way, Kano State.
“Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt ot Abuja offices or through 08093322644; its e-mail address: [email protected] or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies”.
