Politics
EFCC refuses defeat, appeals unfreezing of Ozekhome’s bank account
Not satisfied with the judgment ordering the unfreezing of Mike Ozekhome’s N75 million account, the EFCC has gone to the Court of Appeal to challenge the ruling.
Justice Abdulaziz Anka of the Lagos Federal High Court issued the order.
The EFCC had on February 7, 2017 got an order of the court also presided over by Justice Anka to freeze the money which is in Ozekhome’s Guaranty Trust Bank account.
The anti-graft agency had claimed that the N75million was part of the N2.26billion arms procurement funds, which a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) allegedly looted.
However, Ozekhome contended the matter in the court arguing that the said money was part of the money Governor Fayose paid his chamber for the legal services rendered.
Read also: N1.97bn CONTRACT SCAM: Court clears ex-minister Orubebe
Ruling on the matter on Monday April 3, Justice Anka held that there was no justification to hold Ozekhome liable for receiving the money as legal fee from Fayose because there was no restriction on Fayose’s account when the payment was made.
The trial judge based on the above submission vacated his own order of February 7, in which he restrained Ozekhome from accessing the N75million in his account.
EFCC not willing to accept defeat has approached the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, praying it to reverse Justice Anka’s ruling.
According to EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, Justice Anka erred in law in issuing an order to unfreeze Ozekhome’s account.
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