Kayode Odukoya, CEO of First Nation Airways, has called out the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for failing to update its official website with his acquittal, nearly two years after the court cleared him of fraud, forgery, and theft charges.
In December 2023, the Special Offences Court in Lagos dismissed all charges against Odukoya, ruling that the EFCC’s case “collapsed like a pack of cards” due to unreliable and inadmissible evidence. The judgment was seen as a decisive vindication for the airline chief after a lengthy legal battle.
Yet, according to Odukoya, the EFCC’s continued failure to reflect the acquittal online amounts to an “unjust extension of a media trial” that continues to damage his public image and professional standing.
“This omission is not just a clerical error—it keeps alive the stain of allegations already disproven in court,” he said, stressing that institutions must take responsibility for protecting citizens’ reputations once cleared of wrongdoing.
The controversy highlights a deeper issue of institutional accountability in Nigeria’s justice system, where the lingering shadow of accusations—even after acquittal—can have lasting consequences on careers, businesses, and public trust.
Odukoya’s case serves as a reminder that justice must go beyond the courtroom: it must also be reflected in public records and narratives.
