EFCC DENIES COUNSEL LINKED ISEGHOI-EDWARDS’ REPORT TO PRESSURE FROM SUPERIORS

Read Time:1 Minute, 34 Second

By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has faulted reports on the reaction of its counsel, Larry Peters Aso, to a judgment delivered by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by legal practitioner, Dr Ted Iseghoi-Edwards.

The commission described the reports as a misrepresentation of its counsel’s comments and accused those responsible of deliberately distorting his reaction to the judgment.

Justice Suleiman Belgore reportedly cleared Iseghoi-Edwards of allegations of fraud relating to services rendered to the country’s 774 local government councils. The judge also disagreed with the EFCC over its investigation report on the London-Paris Club refunds.

According to the EFCC, Aso, while reacting to the judgment, thanked the judge for his industry in handling the matter and said the commission would apply for the Certified True Copy of the judgment to study it and determine the necessary steps to take.

The commission, however, denied claims that its counsel referred to an EFCC report issued in 2024, which allegedly accused Iseghoi-Edwards of fraudulently obtaining judgments after instituting proceedings against the Federal Government in the United States.

It also described as mischievous and an attempt at character assassination reports suggesting that Aso said the investigation report was prepared under pressure from senior officials after Iseghoi-Edwards assigned his promissory notes to third parties in the United States, who threatened to sue the Federal Government.

The EFCC said the reports were intended to create the impression that external influences had affected the matter, insisting that no such circumstances existed.

It urged journalists and media organisations to consult the court proceedings of Tuesday, October 20, 2026, when the judgment was delivered, to verify the exact comments made by its counsel.

The commission also called on the media to uphold objectivity and accuracy in reporting court proceedings in the interest of justice.