A federal high court sitting in
Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, has refused to grant a request to release
$2.8 million seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In December, operatives of the
anti-graft agency in Enugu intercepted $2.8m (N1.02bn) at Akanu Ibiam
International Airport. The money was found with Ighoh Augustine and Ezekwe
Emmanuel.
Bankers Warehouse subsequently
said those arrested were its employees who were carrying out legitimate
business of cash movement for one of its banker clients.
The EFCC went ahead to get an
order for the interim forfeiture of the money.
At the resumed hearing of the
case on Friday, Charles Ajuya, a senior advocate who appeared for the
respondents, prayed the court to vacate the interim order.
But, AT Mohammed, the justice who
presided over the case, refused the prayer.
In a statement on Sunday, Tony
Orilade, EFCC spokesman said Anasoh Onyedikachi Henry, EFCC counsel who filed
eight paragraphs affidavits of facts, had disclosed the progress made by the
commission in the investigation.
“While filing application for
interim forfeiture on December 24, 2018, the Commission had also filed an
affidavit of urgency for the matter to be heard before a vacation Judge sitting
in Port Harcourt,” the statement read.
“The EFCC counsel further argued
that the defence was wrong to have asked for vacation of the court order since
the Exparte is still subsisting.
According to Orilade, the judge
upheld the arguments of the prosecution and noted that since the publication of
the interim forfeiture order was public knowledge, the defence should be
prepared to prove its case rather than come to court seeking for the vacation
of the order.
He, however, directed that since
the period of court vacation ended on January 4, 2019, “the case file is hereby
transferred to Enugu Division for continuation of the case”.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com