Court Orders EFCC To Immediately Withdraw Wanted Publications Against Dominic Duru, Khalidur Talukder; Stops Yellow Card From Further Using Security Agents In Commercial Dispute

The High Court of Lagos State, siting in Tapa has granted interim orders directing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately remove, withdraw, and cease the publication or circulation of any notices, posters, or announcements portraying Ogadima Dominic Duru and Khalidur Rahman Mohammad Talukder, directors of DKK Partners Limited, as wanted persons in connection with the contractual dispute between the parties.

The Court further restrained Yellow Card Financial Inc. and Yellow Card Financial Nigeria Limited from invoking or deploying the machinery of law enforcement for the purpose of recovering the disputed contractual sum or otherwise enforcing obligations arising under the parties’ Trading Contracts, and restrained the EFCC from taking any further coercive or enforcement steps in relation to the said contractual dispute pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

As part of the interim orders, the Court directed DKK Partners Limited to deposit the disputed sum of $80,000.00 USD, into an interest-yielding account pending the determination of the Motion on Notice, thereby preserving the disputed funds while the parties’ rights are determined by the Court.

The interim orders were made by Honourable Justice (Dr.) Rosul O. Olukolu, in suit numbered LD/11047GCM/2026 between DKK Partners Limited as Claimant and Yellow Card Financial Inc., Yellow Card Financial Nigeria Limited, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as first to third defendants.

In praying the court for the orders, the claimant’s counsel, Olamide Balogun, Esq., informed the Court that DKK Partners Limited had voluntarily sought leave to deposit the disputed sum into Court as a demonstration of its good faith and commitment to honouring its contractual obligations, while maintaining that the dispute ought to be resolved through the civil process agreed by the parties rather than through the deployment of criminal investigative powers

In the substantive suit, DKK Partners Limited contends that the underlying Trading Contracts were executed between DKK Partners Limited, a company incorporated in England and Wales, and Yellow Card Financial Inc., a company incorporated in the United States of America.

According to the Claimant, the parties never contemplated that a dispute arising from their pure private commercial agreements would be referred to Nigerian law enforcement agencies as a means of exerting commercial pressure or recovering an alleged contractual debt, having expressly agreed the governing law, jurisdiction, and dispute resolution mechanisms applicable to their relationship. 

Consequently, the Claimant seeks declarations that Nigerian law enforcement agencies cannot lawfully be deployed as debt recovery agents or contractual enforcement mechanisms in respect of disputes arising from private commercial agreements. 

It also seeks orders compelling the withdrawal of all petitions and related publications, perpetual injunctions restraining any further resort to criminal process in connection with the contractual dispute, a corrective publication, N500 million Naira as general damages for the alleged reputational and commercial losses suffered, and other consequential reliefs.

The substantive issues raised in the suit remain pending before the Court for determination.

The matter has been adjourned to September 29, 2026 for report of service and further proceeding.