The federal high court in Abuja has granted the request made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to freeze 24 bank accounts over alleged terrorism financing.
Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, granted the ex parte
application filed by the anti-graft agency.
THE APPLICATION
Ekele Iheanacho, the counsel to the EFCC, filed the ex parte
application.
According to NAN, Iheanacho said some of the bank accounts
attached to the application belong to Lawrence Lucky Eromosele, who is being
investigated in a case involving kidnapping.
The senior lawyer said the bank accounts are being
investigated by the agency in relation to money laundering and terrorism
financing.
He said the bank accounts are linked to proceeds of illegal
manipulation of the naira through cryptocurrency platforms and laundering of
funds of unlawful activities.
The lawyer added that the funds in the bank accounts are to
be protected pending the conclusion of the investigation by the EFCC.
The affidavit attached to the application was deposed by
Mohammed Khalil, an EFCC investigator attached to the office of the national
security adviser (NSA).
In the affidavit, Khali said Nuhu Ribadu, the NSA, directed
a team to investigate a syndicate threatening the lives of senior operatives
attached to his office by blackmailing and making demands for payments of
ransom.
The investigator said some of the operatives were threatened
by members of the syndicate with abduction of their relatives.
He added that they provided the home addresses, family
locations, and specific movements of the operatives’ family members.
The officer said the team had identified bank accounts
linked to the individuals making the threats.
“Attached and marked as exhibit EFCC 2 are the bank
statements of one of the suspects,” Khali told the court.
“Further intelligence has revealed that proceeds of crimes
and funds for terrorist activities are covertly exchanged through these
platforms.”
During the court proceedings, Martha Babatunde, the counsel
who appeared for the EFCC, said the investigation would take 90 days.
The judge granted the prayer of the anti-graft agency and
adjourned the matter to March 24, 2025, for a mention.
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