Withdraw wanted notice against DKK directors, court orders EFCC

The High Court of Lagos State sitting in Tapa has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to withdraw and cease publishing notices declaring two directors of DKK Partners Limited wanted over a contractual dispute.

Justice Rosul Olukolu made the interim orders in Suit No. LD/11047GCM/2026 filed by DKK Partners Limited against Yellow Card Financial Inc., Yellow Card Financial Nigeria Limited, and the EFCC.

The court directed the anti-graft agency to remove, withdraw, and stop 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 dispute.

Justice Olukolu also restrained Yellow Card Financial Inc. and Yellow Card Financial Nigeria Limited from invoking law enforcement agencies to recover the disputed contractual sum or enforce obligations arising from the parties’ trading contracts.

The court further restrained the EFCC from taking any further coercive or enforcement action in relation to the dispute pending the hearing and determination of the claimant’s motion on notice.

As part of the interim orders, the court directed DKK Partners Limited to deposit the disputed $80,000 into an interest-yielding account pending the determination of the motion on notice, to preserve the funds while the rights of the parties are determined.

The counsel to the claimant, Olamide Balogun, told the court that DKK Partners Limited had voluntarily sought leave to deposit the disputed sum as a demonstration of good faith and its commitment to fulfilling its contractual obligations.

He argued that the dispute should be resolved through the civil dispute resolution process agreed by the parties rather than through the deployment of criminal investigative powers.

In the substantive suit, DKK Partners Ltd contended that the trading contracts were executed between the company, which was incorporated in England and Wales, and Yellow Card Financial Inc., a company incorporated in the United States.

According to the claimant, the parties never envisaged that disputes arising from their 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 on the governing law, jurisdiction, and dispute resolution mechanisms applicable to their relationship.

The claimant is seeking declarations that Nigerian law enforcement agencies cannot lawfully be used as debt recovery agents or contractual enforcement mechanisms in disputes arising from private commercial agreements.

It is also seeking orders compelling the withdrawal of all petitions and related publications, perpetual injunctions restraining further recourse to criminal process in connection with the dispute, a corrective publication, N500m in general damages for alleged reputational and commercial losses, and other consequential reliefs.

Justice Olukolu adjourned the matter until September 29, 2026, for a report of service and further proceedings.