Court Restrains EFCC from Arresting Honda Executives, Dealers and Associates Pending Rights Suit
The Lagos State High Court, presided over by Justice Olukayode Ogunjobi, has issued an interim injunction restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting, detaining, or interfering with the liberty of executives of Honda Manufacturing (Nigeria) Limited, Honda Automobile Western Africa Limited, their dealers, distributors, business associates, and over 200 other applicants in connection with an ongoing investigation.
The order, granted on 28 October 2026, followed an application by the Honda companies and other applicants seeking protection against alleged threats to their fundamental rights.
The injunction prohibits the EFCC, its officers, agents and representatives from arresting, detaining or otherwise restricting the personal liberty of the applicants or their officers in connection with the subject matter of the investigation. The order will remain in force pending the hearing and determination of their substantive fundamental rights suit.
The application was presented before the court by Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, who represented the applicants.
In their submissions, the applicants raised concerns over what they described as repeated EFCC invitations for questioning, threats of arrest and possible detention. They argued that the actions could infringe on their constitutional rights, particularly their rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement and privacy.
Consequently, they asked the court to stop the anti-graft agency from arresting or detaining them in relation to the investigation. They also sought an order preventing the commission from compelling their executives, dealers, distributors and business associates to repeatedly appear for questioning.
Some individual applicants further requested protection against arrest or detention solely on the grounds that they had failed or were unable to respond to additional EFCC invitations.
They also urged the court to prevent the commission from taking any action that could restrict their liberty without complying with the provisions of the Constitution, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and other applicable laws.
In his ruling, Justice Ogunjobi granted the first prayer of the application, explaining that the interim injunction sufficiently addressed the applicants’ second to sixth prayers.
The judge consequently restrained the EFCC from interfering with the personal liberty of the applicants in connection with the matter until the substantive fundamental rights case is determined.
Justice Ogunjobi also emphasised the importance of expediting the hearing, noting that the case involves allegations of actual or threatened violations of fundamental human rights.
Meanwhile, the applicants had also asked the court to direct the EFCC to return original documents allegedly taken from the premises of Honda Manufacturing (Nigeria) Limited during a visit on September 24, 2026. They proposed that the commission could retain photocopies of the documents while returning the originals to the company.
However, the court declined to grant this particular request at the interim stage.
The suit was instituted under Sections 34, 35, 37, 40, 43 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, alongside relevant provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.
It is important to note that the interim injunction does not invalidate the EFCC investigation or determine whether the applicants’ fundamental rights were violated. Rather, it preserves their liberty while the substantive case remains before the court.
The matter has been adjourned until November 13, 2026, for further proceedings.
