“No Arrest, Detention Over Pending EFCC Investigation” — Court Protects Honda Executives, Dealers, Over 200 Applicants

The Lagos State High Court has restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from arresting or detaining executives of Honda Manufacturing (Nigeria) Limited, Honda Automobile Western Africa Limited, their dealers, distributors, business associates and more than 200 other applicants in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Justice Olukayode Ogunjobi granted the interim injunction on October 28, 2026, following an application brought by the two Honda companies and other corporate and individual applicants seeking protection of their fundamental rights pending the determination of their substantive suit.

The court barred the EFCC, its officers, agents and persons acting on its behalf from arresting, detaining or otherwise depriving the applicants or their officers of their personal liberty over the subject matter of the investigation pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion on notice.

The application was moved by Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, on behalf of the applicants.

The applicants had complained about repeated invitations for questioning, threats of arrest and detention and what they considered potential interference with their rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement and privacy.

They therefore asked the court to restrain the anti-graft agency from arresting or detaining them in connection with the investigation and from compelling their officers, dealers, distributors and other business associates to continue reporting for questioning.

They also sought protection for some individual applicants from being arrested or detained solely because they had failed or were unable to honour further EFCC invitations.

The applicants further asked the court to prevent the commission from taking steps capable of restricting their liberty without complying with the Constitution, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and other applicable laws.

In his ruling, Justice Ogunjobi granted the applicants’ first prayer for an interim injunction and held that the order sufficiently covered prayers two to six of their application.

The court consequently restrained the EFCC from interfering with the applicants’ personal liberty in relation to the subject matter of the case until the substantive fundamental rights action is determined.

Justice Ogunjobi also stressed the need for an expedited hearing because the action concerns alleged violations or threatened violations of fundamental rights.

The applicants had additionally sought an order compelling the EFCC to return original documents allegedly taken from the premises of Honda Manufacturing (Nigeria) Limited during a visit on September 24, 2026.

They asked that the commission be allowed to retain photocopies while returning the originals to the company.

The court, however, declined to grant that particular request at the interim stage.

The fundamental rights action was instituted pursuant to Sections 34, 35, 37, 40, 43 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as relevant provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

The interim order does not determine the merits of the EFCC investigation or the substantive rights claims. It preserves the applicants’ liberty pending further consideration of the case.

The matter was adjourned until November 13, 2026, for further proceedings.

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