By RhemDy News
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned proceedings to July 23, 2026, in a suit seeking to restrain the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating a petition arising from a disputed property transaction involving AK Culture & Media Ltd, a Nigerian company, with Chinese investment interests.
A senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Oladejo Lamikanra (SAN), and Woodcoate Properties Limited are seeking the nod of the court presided over by Justice S. B. Belgore to stop the EFCC investigation in the closely watched case.
The case followed allegations by filed by AK Culture & Media Ltd that it paid about ₦156 million to Woodcoate Properties Limited in connection with the lease of a property in Katampe Extension, Abuja, but that possession of the property was never delivered and the money has not been refunded.
The company further alleged that after payment had been completed, an additional ₦63 million was demanded before possession of the property would be handed over to it.
The allegations were governor denied by the claimants, who contended that the dispute was contractual and not criminal.
Following a petition by the company, the anti-graft commission commenced preliminary investigations into the allegations by issuing invitations to the defendant.
However, the claimants approached the FCT High Court and obtained interim orders to restrain the Commission from continuing aspects of the investigation pending the determination of their Motion on Notice.
The enrolled order also restrained the defendants and persons acting on their instructions from making further petitions or complaints to the EFCC or other law enforcement and regulatory agencies concerning the subject matter pending the hearing of the Motion.
At the Tuesday's proceedings, Mr. Tahiru Adebayo, SAN, appeared for the claimants/applicants, while Frank Tietie, Esq., represented the 1st to 4th defendants/respondents.
The court, however, ruled that the matter could not proceed because the EFCC, being the 5th Defendant, had not been served with the hearing notice for the motion on notice.
Consequently, Justice Belgore adjourned the matter to July 23, 2026, to enable proper service on the EFCC and for the motion on notice to be heard.
The proceedings have attracted attention within legal and business circles because they raised broader questions concerning the relationship between civil disputes and criminal investigations, the extent to which courts may restrain statutory investigative agencies before investigations are completed, and the balance between protecting individuals from oppressive investigations and preserving the investigative mandate of anti-corruption institutions.
According to the defendants' court filings, the dispute extends beyond an ordinary commercial disagreement.
They argued that the petition to the EFCC was based on a sequence of alleged events including the receipt of approximately ₦156 million, the alleged refusal to deliver possession of the property, the alleged demand for an additional ₦63 million, the alleged refusal to refund the money, and subsequent events which, in their view, warranted investigation by the Commission.
For its part, the claimants, however, maintained that the dispute was purely civil and that the EFCC should not be used as a debt-recovery mechanism.
The case is also being closely monitored because the defendants argued that the transaction involves a duly incorporated Nigerian company with foreign investment and that the outcome may have implications for investor confidence and the interaction between commercial disputes and criminal investigations.
When the court resumes proceedings on July 23, it is expected to hear arguments on whether the interim orders should be continued, varied or discharged, and on the preliminary objections challenging the competence of the proceedings.
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