Court Restrains EFCC from Arresting Honda Executives, Associates, Dealers

The High Court of Lagos State, Lagos Judicial Division, on Wednesday 28
th October 2026, granted an interim injunction sought by Honda Manufacturing (Nigeria) Limited, Honda Automobile Western Africa Limited and more than 200 other applicants against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), restraining the commission from arresting or detaining them in connection with the subject of a pending investigation.

Justice Olukayode Ogunjobi granted the first prayer in the applicants’ motion for interim injunction after it was moved by their counsel, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, leading Akinwale Irokosu A. Apara and T. Aluko, who appeared for the applicants.

The applicants, comprising the two Honda companies, their officers, dealers, distributors, business associates and other individuals and businesses, approached the Court seeking protection of their fundamental rights in connection with the EFCC investigation, including relief concerning invitations for questioning, threats of arrest and detention, and interference with personal liberty, freedom of movement and privacy.

The Court granted Prayer 1 and held that the relief granted under Prayer 1 covered Prayers 2 to 6. In their application, the applicants sought an order restraining the EFCC, its officers, agents and anyone acting on its behalf from arresting, detaining or otherwise depriving them or their officers of their personal liberty in connection with the investigation, pending the determination of their substantive suit.

They also sought orders restraining the EFCC from compelling the applicants or their officers to report for questioning, issuing further invitations to certain applicants, dealers, distributors and business associates, and harassing, intimidating or threatening the applicants with arrest.

The applicants further asked the court to restrain the EFCC from arresting or detaining certain individual applicants solely because they failed or were unable to honour further invitations issued in connection with the investigation.

Another relief sought was an order preventing the commission from taking steps to restrict their liberty without complying with the Constitution, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and other applicable laws.

The suit was brought under Sections 34, 35, 37, 40, 43 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and relevant provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

The matter has been adjourned to 13 November 2026 for further proceedings.