The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, has granted EFCC’s application to freeze 67 bank accounts domiciled in different banks over an alleged N52.9 million fraud.

Justice Emeka Nwite granted the application after the EFCC’s lawyer, Martha Babatunde, moved an ex parte motion to the effect.

The motion ex parte, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1895/V/2024, was filed by Miracle Anameze.

The motion sought an order empowering EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede, or any other officer of the commission empowered by him, to instruct the managing directors of the banks to stop all outward payments, operations, or transactions (including any bill of exchange) in respect of the bank accounts pending the conclusion of the investigation.

When the matter was called, the anti-graft lawyer informed the court that the application was dated December 16 and filed on December 17.

“Our motion prays for an order of this honourable court freezing the bank accounts as stated in the schedule attached. There are three grounds attached,” she said.

Ms Babatunde urged the court to grant the application. The judge then asked the lawyer how long the investigation would take, and she said it would take 90 days.

The judge, who held that the application was meritorious, granted the prayer.

He adjourned the matter until March 24 for mention.

On the three grounds of argument, the lawyer said the court was empowered to grant reliefs sought.

She said the bank accounts in respect to which the order was sought contained proceeds of crime and that there was a need to prevent the dissipation of the funds.

She said the accounts in respect of which the reliefs were sought were the subject matter of investigation by the EFCC.

In the affidavit deposed to by Ikenna Chukwueze, an investigator attached to the EFCC’s Procurement Fraud Section, the officer said he was part of the team assigned to investigate the matter.

He said the commission received a criminal petition on October 17, 2023, accompanied by the statement of account of Advance Development Services Engineering Limited (ADSEL) and signed by one Nnamdi Micheal Ogobuchi on behalf of ADSEL and Dollah Kingsley Nnamdi against Taiwo Abubakar Oluwajuwon and Heasy Enterprises.

He said the petition alleged the offence of internet-related fraud, conspiracy and unauthorised withdrawal involving N52.991 million.

Mr Chukwueze said the team commenced a discreet and thorough investigation into the matter to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the petition.

According to him, the preliminary investigation conducted revealed that the petitioner operates a corporate naira account no. 10277491959 with VFD Microfinance Bank.

He said on October 16, 2023, the petitioner’s corporate account was compromised, wherein N50 million was withdrawn from the account in quick succession to an account domiciled with Moniepoint Microfinance Bank with the account name Heasy Enterprises (8220378843) owned by Mr Oluwajuwon.

(NAN)