Lagos Court Halts EFCC ‘Wanted’ Notices Against DKK Partners Directors Amidst Contractual Dispute
The High Court of Lagos State has issued interim orders compelling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately withdraw all notices and publications declaring Ogadima Dominic Duru and Khalidur Rahman Mohammad Talukder, directors of DKK Partners Limited, as wanted persons. This directive stems from a contractual dispute between DKK Partners Limited and Yellow Card Financial Inc. and its Nigerian subsidiary.
The court’s intervention also extends to restraining Yellow Card Financial Inc. and Yellow Card Financial Nigeria Limited from utilising law enforcement mechanisms to recover the disputed contractual sum or enforce obligations arising from their trading contracts. Furthermore, the EFCC is prohibited from taking any further coercive or enforcement actions concerning the contractual dispute pending the determination of a Motion on Notice.
In a move to preserve the disputed funds, the court has mandated DKK Partners Limited to deposit the sum of $80,000.00 USD into an interest-yielding account. This measure ensures the funds remain accessible and their status is preserved while the court adjudicates the parties’ rights.
These interim orders were granted by Honourable Justice (Dr.) Rosul O. Olukolu in Suit Number LD/11047GCM/2026, filed by DKK Partners Limited as the Claimant against Yellow Card Financial Inc., Yellow Card Financial Nigeria Limited, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, who are listed as the first to third defendants.
The claimant’s counsel, Olamide Balogun, Esq., informed the court that DKK Partners Limited had proactively sought leave to deposit the disputed sum as a demonstration of good faith and commitment to its contractual obligations. Counsel argued that the dispute should be resolved through the agreed civil process rather than through the deployment of criminal investigative powers.
DKK Partners Limited, a company incorporated in England and Wales, contends that the trading contracts were executed with Yellow Card Financial Inc., a United States-based entity. The claimant asserts that the parties never intended for disputes arising from their private commercial agreements to be referred to Nigerian law enforcement agencies as a means of exerting commercial pressure or recovering alleged contractual debts, especially given their explicit agreement on governing law, jurisdiction, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
Consequently, DKK Partners Limited is seeking declarations that Nigerian law enforcement agencies cannot lawfully be employed as debt recovery agents or for the enforcement of private commercial agreements. The claimant also seeks orders compelling the withdrawal of all petitions and related publications, perpetual injunctions against further resort to criminal processes in connection with the dispute, a corrective publication, and N500 million Naira in general damages for alleged reputational and commercial losses.
The substantive issues raised in the suit remain before the court for determination. The matter has been adjourned to September 29, 2026, for a report on service and further proceedings. This ruling underscores the critical distinction between civil contractual disputes and criminal matters, and the potential implications for businesses operating across jurisdictions when engaging law enforcement in commercial disagreements.
