Chappal Energies has pushed back against a public notice issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declaring its managing director, Ufoma Immanuel, wanted, insisting that there is a subsisting court order restraining the anti-graft agency from taking such action.
In a notice released on Wednesday, the EFCC had declared Immanuel, CEO of Chappal Energies, wanted for alleged offences bordering on obtaining money by false pretense and forgery. The agency urged members of the public with information on his whereabouts to contact any of its offices nationwide or reach it via its hotline and email.
This comes on the heels of the collapse of an $860 million divestment deal between TotalEnergies and Chappal Energies, reportedly over the latter’s failure to meet critical financial obligations.
However, in a statement on Thursday, Chappal Energies described the move as inconsistent with “established procedures” for enforcement under Nigerian law, which it says require reasonable attempts at direct engagement through official channels before issuing or acting on a warrant.
“To our knowledge, no attempt was made to engage Mr. Immanuel or the company through these channels prior to the issuance of the notice, which creates the unfortunate impression of a public escalation where standard procedures were readily available,” the company said.
Chappal added that both the firm and its CEO remain “fully reachable” via their official addresses, phone numbers and electronic contacts, all of which are publicly available.
Existing Court Order
According to the statement, there is an interlocutory injunction granted on September 11, 2025 by Hon. Justice J.E. Obanor of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
The order, Chappal said, restrains the EFCC and other respondents from inviting, questioning, arresting, detaining, or otherwise acting against Immanuel or Chappal Energies. The firm maintains that the order remains in force and argues that the EFCC notice appears to disregard it.
The company faulted the circumstances surrounding the public notice, saying it gives the impression of “external actors seeking public spectacle and mischief rather than adherence to legal due process.”
Chappal Energies reiterated that it respects the roles of statutory institutions, including the EFCC, and remains committed to full cooperation with authorities “through the proper legal channels.” It added that it will take appropriate legal steps to address the development.
The firm also stressed that its operations remain uninterrupted and that its leadership remains focused on delivering long-term value in line with commitments to partners, regulators and stakeholders.
