From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Abuja division of the Federal High Court has granted the request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to freeze a total of 1, 146 bank accounts belonging to individuals and companies over allegations bordering on unauthorised dealing in foreign exchange, among others.
The anti-graft agency told the court that it is investigating other offences linked to the affected individuals and companies bordering on money laundering and terrorism financing. Ruling on an ex parte application that was moved by counsel to the commission, Ekele Iheanancho, Justice Emeka Nwite, further granted EFCC’s request to conclude the investigation within 90 days.
According to the certified true copy of the ruling that was delivered on April 24, Justice Nwite ruled, “It is, hereby, ordered as follows: That the applicant’s application is, hereby, granted as prayed. That an order of this honourable court is, hereby, made freezing the bank accounts stated in the schedule below, which accounts are owned by various individuals who are currently being investigated in a case involving the offences of unauthorised dealing in foreign exchange, money laundering and terrorism financing to the extant that the investigation will be for a period of 90 days.”
In a motion ex parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/543/2024, dated and filed April 24, and heard same day was brought pursuant to Section 44(2) and (K) of the 1999 Constitution; Section 34 of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004; Section 7(8) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
The commission had sought the order freezing the bank accounts stated in the schedule attached to the motion pending the conclusion of the investigation. The motion which was rooted on three grounds said, “The bank accounts in respect of which the reliefs are sought are subject matters of investigation by the EFCC in relation to money laundering and terrorism financing.
“That preliminary investigation conducted, thus far, reveals that the bank accounts are linked to persons who take advantage of the virtual crypto currency exchange platforms to illegally manipulate the value of naira and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities. That there is a need to preserve the funds in the identified bank accounts pending the conclusion of investigation and possible prosecution.”
Some of the account names mentioned in the attached schedule are Akitoye Adeyemi Ayomide with GTBank account number; 0165110025; Clyp Trading Ltd, Titan Trust Bank account number: 0000331101; Clyp Consulting Ltd, Providous account number: 9401374554; and Toyetech Platforms Ltd, Titan Trust Bank account number: 0000134962.
They also include Winx International Platforms Ltd, Titan Trust Bank account number: 0000135055; Shutterscore Trading Platforms Ltd, Access Bank account number: 1532363954; Tradecillion Trading Ltd, Stanbic IBTC account number: 0045672922; and Nsofor Donald Nmamdi, GTBank account number: 0449088666.
They equally include Kora Payments Network Ltd-Operations, UBA account number: 1022242089; Renderstack Technologies Ltd, Zenith Bank account number: 1210355120; Korex Payments Ltd, Globus account number: 5000007837; and Awe Microfinance Bank Ltd, Providous account number: 5400760781; and Victor Samuel Asuquo, Opay Digital Services Ltd account number: 9020132068.
Others are Akingbade Sabit Juwon, ECO Bank account number: 3442053006; Nsofor Donald Nmamdi, Union Bank account number: 0140460572; Asuquo Victor Samuel, First Bank account number: 3153199542; Oty Ugochukwu Stanley, FCMB account number: 4039304011; Oty & Sons Global Concepts, Fidelity Bank account number: 6060410145; and Pelumi Ayandoye, Wema Bank account number: 0234852277; and David George Ajala, Fidelity Bank account number: 5090680780, among others.