|
Listen to article
|
The Federal High Court in Abuja has approved a motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to place a freeze on 24 bank accounts, citing allegations of links to terrorism financing.
The decision, viewed as a significant step in the government’s efforts to curb illicit financial activities, underscores the growing scrutiny on financial channels suspected of enabling extremist operations within the country.
The EFCC submitted an ex parte application to the Federal High Court, seeking authorization to freeze multiple bank accounts, including those allegedly associated with Lawrence Lucky Eromosele, a suspect under investigation for his involvement in a kidnapping case. The application highlights the agency’s focus on tracing financial networks tied to criminal activities.
Citing the need to secure the funds as critical evidence, the EFCC requested the court’s approval to freeze the accounts. The anti-corruption agency maintained that safeguarding the money was essential to ensure the integrity of its ongoing investigation into alleged financial crimes.
In the ex parte application, filed by the EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), the commission indicated that the accounts were being scrutinised in relation to money laundering and terrorism financing activities.
Iheanacho added that the accounts were linked to proceeds of illegal activities, including the manipulation of the naira through cryptocurrency platforms and the laundering of funds associated with unlawful actions.
Read also: Luigi Mangione Charged With Murder As ‘Act Of Terrorism’
An affidavit attached to the application, deposed by Mohammed Khalil, an EFCC investigator working with the office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, detailed the investigation into a syndicate that had been blackmailing and threatening senior operatives in the NSA’s office.
The threats included demands for ransom payments and the abduction of the operatives’ relatives. The syndicate was reported to have provided home addresses, family locations, and specific movements of the operatives’ families.
Khalil further stated that the investigation identified bank accounts tied to the individuals responsible for these threats, which were mentioned in the application before the court.
The bank statements of one of the suspects were submitted as evidence and marked as exhibit EFCC 2.
According to intelligence gathered during the investigation, the funds in these accounts were covertly exchanged through cryptocurrency platforms for terrorist activities.
At the court session, EFCC counsel, Martha Babatunde, informed the court that the investigation would take 90 days and requested the court’s approval to freeze the accounts for that period.
The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, granted the application and adjourned the matter to March 24, 2025, for further mention.
