Abuja, Nigeria – Big wahala don unfold as Federal High Court for Abuja don order make dem collect $7 million wey dey hide for Providus Bank vault, straight to Federal Government pocket. Na Justice Emeka Nwite carry this ruling come on top EFCC matter wey dey vex like say na thief wey caught red-handed.
As the EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, don talk for court, dem don already follow all the legal turns since August 27 when dem put a freeze on the money. No be small matter! Na him now dey tell the judge say since dem publish the order, nobody don show face come claim the cash back, so na final forfeiture dem dey find.
“My lord, we don dey wait since that August date wey you give interim order, but nobody come show their face,” Oyedepo yab. Dem even gather say one lawyer, Gbenga Akande, come chop junior job when he claim say him dey represent some interest, but no DNA test to back am up, as he no fit even drop who he dey represent. Abeg, wetin be dis?
On top say Akande no show up, na another lawyer, Darlington Ozurumba, come enter court but him no wan disturb wetin EFCC dey talk. “On our part, we are not opposing the application,” e just reason for the EFCC’s request. Na so Nwite look the matter and conclude say the application dey make sense; dem go fit take the money permanently.
According to EFCC Oga Emmanuel Okeibunor, na credible intelligence talk say dem transport that huge sum about March 25 and 26 go Providus Bank wey dey Victoria Island, Lagos – but wetin dem carry the money do? It no enter any customer account; instead, dem hide am for the bank vault like person wey dey hide pimples under makeup.
Interviews wey EFCC do with bank staff show say dem bring the cash on behalf of the Managing Director of Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited. But the supposed boss come claim say she no sabi anything about that money, instead, she say na loan dem borrow her – a whopping $7 million wey dey still remain unpaid. E be like say na outright confusion dey reign.
To make matter worse, Providus Bank no even file any Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) to NFIU as dem suppose do, making dem jam their own self too for the hot soup wey EFCC dey cook. Okeibunor go further yarn say the money wey dem dey try to confiscate na suspected proceeds from unlawful activity. E no get any clear source wey legit.
After EFCC collect the cash in real raw dollars, dem transfer am straight to Central Bank of Nigeria for safekeeping. People no dey come to claim the funds, so EFCC in the spirit of anti-corruption warrior waka go secure final forfeiture for that $7 million. Na big win for dem!
This ruling gree shine light on how judiciary dey support anti-corruption efforts and how important am for banks to dey follow rules. With final forfeiture now confirmed, e mean say EFCC dey on the right path as dem dey push hard against financial crimes for Naija. Na just small cash, but e carry big weight of trust in democracy!
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