By Tonia Okereke
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday issued an order of interim freezing and forfeiture of the sum of over N228.4 million linked to former Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia to the Federal Government on allegations of money laundering.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on an ex-parte motion moved by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s lawyer, Fadila Yusuf, also directed the EFCC to make publication of the order on its website and Daily Trust Newspaper.
Based on Justice Nwite’s order, interested parties are to show cause within 14 days of the publication of the order.
Nwite adjourned the matter until Feb. 3 for a report of compliance.
The anti-graft agency had, in the motion, ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/03/V/2025, brought the suit pursuant to Section 44(2)b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The motion dated Dec. 30, 2024 and filed Jan. 2 by Yusuf, was also brought under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
The lawyer sought an order granting an interim freezing and forfeiture of the sum of N228, 497, 773. 12 domiciled with Keystone Bank set out in the schedule attached to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
She also sought “an order authorising the commission to make publication of interim freezing/forfeiture order made by this honourable court on the EFCC website and Daily Trust Newspaper and the interested parties to show cause within 14 days of the publication of the order.”
Be the first to comment