Court orders EFCC to freeze firms’ accounts

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday ordered the freezing of 23 bank accounts belonging to companies who are being investigated for alleged fraud.

Justice Chuka Obiozor made the order based on an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Murtala Usman, said accounts are in eight banks.

Wale Adekunle, Tosin Affinnih, Edward Williams and Olayinka Loveth are the respondents.

The affected companies are – Atlantic Finaplux Limited, Manhattan Corporate Essential Limited, Jodaf Investment Limited, Frenolen International Limited, Medlams Global Services, Tankarawa Bureau De Change, Self Reliance Advancement Programs and Desmie Medical Services.

Others are – Calculus and Company, Mass Investment Fund, Limited, Domareen Global Services Limited, Mayiwa Williams Samuel, Sodipo Oludare, Soyode Akinlanwon, and Buchi and Seyi Obiefuna.

The EFCC sought an order empowering its Executive Chairman or any other officer to instruct the banks’ managing directors to freeze the accounts pending the conclusion of investigation.

After granting the application, the judge ordered the EFCC to publish the order in two national newspapers for anyone who may have interest in the accounts to show cause as to why the order should not made absolute.

According to EFCC investigator, Boniface Uzoechi, on July 6, the Commission received a petition from S. D. Ijie and Associates on behalf of Equitorial Energy Limited alleging fraud and stealing to the tune of N175.3 million.

The deponent said the complainant alleged that sometime in January, his account officer in Skye Bank Plc, Adekunle (the first respondent), approached him with Affinnih (the second respondent) claiming that they had a customer who could sell dollars to the complainant.

EFCC said the complainant alleged that N175.3 million was transferred to various accounts, and that the dollar equivalent was allegedly not remitted.

Justice Obiozor adjourned the matter till December 15.

 

 

The post Court orders EFCC to freeze firms’ accounts appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.