Frozen account: Fayose knows fate December 2

Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Monday fixed December 2 for judgment on the freezing of Governor Ayo Fayose’s Zenith Bank accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

This followed the adoptions of Written Addresses and other evidences by parties involved in the suit.

DAILY POST recalls that Fayose’s bank accounts domicile with Zenith Bank Plc, Ado-Ekiti were on June 20 frozen by the EFCC.

Consequently, Fayose through his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome approached a Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti for an order ordering the respondents, that is EFCC, (first respondent) and Zenith Bank as the second respondents to immediately un-freeze those accounts.

Ozekhome argued that the action of EFCC, placing embargo on his client’s personal bank accounts was illegal, unconstitutional and an infringement on the Fundamental Rights of the applicant.

He said EFCC acted contrary to Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of NIgeria,1999 as ammended, which granted immunity to a sitting governor not to be prosecuted in either Civil or Criminal matters.

Ozekhome urged the court to grant all the prayers of the applicant and that cost should also be awarded in favour of his client.

While adopting his Written Address and 10 paragraphs Affidavit, counsel to EFCC, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo told the court that the Commission acted within its statutory and Constitutional power, citing Section 6(5)(b) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011.

He also argued in line with Sections 19, 34 of the EFCC Establishment Act.

“By the provision of this Sections, EFCC has power to instruct Zenith Bank to place ‘Stop Order’ on the account suspected to be proceeds of alleged crime.

“After the expiration of the 72 hours stop order by Section 6 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, the first respondent timeliously obtained a Court Order through an Expert Originating Summon.

“Justice M.B Idris of the Lagos Division on June 24 gave order to freeze the accounts of the applicant as shown by Exhibit EFCC 09”, he stated.

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