The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has dismissed an appeal filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to challenging the order directing it to unfreeze the accounts of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozhekome.
The appellate court in a unanimous judgement delivered by Justice Chidi Nwaoma Uwa held that the appeal lacks merit.
Justice Tunde Awotoye and James Abundaga are the two other members of the panel.
At the instance of the EFCC on April 3rd 2017, Justice Abdulaziz Anka of the Federal High Court, Lagos lifted a restraining order he earlier placed on the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) account of Ozekhome.
Appeal Court Dismisses EFCC s Seizure Of Ozekhome s Professional Fees Paid By Ex-Ekiti Governor, Fayose
Ozekhome filed a motion before the Federal High Court, Lagos, urging it to set aside its earlier order freezing his chambers’ account.
by SaharaReporters, New York
May 24, 2021
The Court of Appeal, Lagos Judicial Division, has condemned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission s seizure of Chief Mike Ozekhome s professional fees.
The EFCC had obtained an interim ex parte order of forfeiture to freeze the money for 120 days, arguing that the N75 million transferred to Ozekhome s account was a proceed of unlawful activity.
The anti-corruption agency argued that this was because the money was paid to Ozekhome by the then sitting Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, who was under the agency s investigation.