A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an interim order sought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to freeze at least 1,146 bank accounts belonging to individuals and companies over allegations bordering on unauthorised dealing in foreign exchange, among others.
Other offences being investigated by the EFCC bordered on money laundering and terrorism financing.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on the ex-parte motion moved by counsel for the Anti-graft Agency, Ekele Iheanacho also granted the commission’s application to conclude the investigation within 90 days.
Though the ruling was delivered on April 24, its certified true copy was sighted on Monday.
The Agency had sought the order freezing the bank accounts stated in the schedule attached to the motion pending the conclusion of the investigation.
Giving three grounds upon which the reliefs were sought, it said the bank accounts in respect of which the reliefs are sought are subject matters of investigation by the EFCC in relation to money laundering and terrorism financing.
Preliminary investigation conducted so far reveals that the bank accounts are linked to persons who take advantage of the virtual cryptocurrency exchange platforms to illegally manipulate the value of Naira and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities.
Justice Nwite consequently adjourned the matter till July 23 for mention.
Some of the account names mentioned in the attached schedule are Akitoye Adeyemi Ayomide with GTBank account number; 0165110025; Clyp Trading Ltd, Titan Trust Bank account number: 0000331101; Clyp Consulting Ltd, Providous account number: 9401374554; and Toyetech Platforms Ltd, Titan Trust Bank account number: 0000134962.
They also include Winx International Platforms Ltd, Titan Trust Bank account number: 0000135055; Shutterscore Trading Platforms Ltd, Access Bank account number: 1532363954; Tradecillion Trading Ltd, Stanbic IBTC account number: 0045672922; and Nsofor Donald Nmamdi, GTBank account number: 0449088666.
They equally include Kora Payments Network Ltd-Operations, UBA account number: 1022242089; Renderstack Technologies Ltd, Zenith Bank account number: 1210355120; Korex Payments Ltd, Globus account number: 5000007837; and Awe Microfinance Bank Ltd, Providous account number: 5400760781; and Victor Samuel Asuquo, Opay Digital Services Ltd account number: 9020132068.
Others are Akingbade Sabit Juwon, ECOBANK account number: 3442053006; Nsofor Donald Nmamdi, Union Bank account number: 0140460572; Asuquo Victor Samuel, First Bank account number: 3153199542; Oty Ugochukwu Stanley, FCMB account number: 4039304011; Oty & Sons Global Concepts, Fidelity Bank account number: 6060410145; and Pelumi Ayandoye, Wema Bank account number: 0234852277; and David George Ajala, Fidelity Bank account number: 5090680780, among others.
On March 18, ait.live reported that Justice Nwite equally ordered Binance Holdings Limited to provide EFCC with the comprehensive data or information of all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform.
The judge granted the interim order on february. 29 to enable the anti-graft agency unravel the alleged money laundering and terrorism financing on Binance, a crypto currency exchange platform.
The commission had told the judge that its investigating team uncovered users who had been using the platform for price discovery, confirmation and market manipulation which had caused tremendous distortions in the market, resulting in the Naira losing its values against other currencies.
It said that information provided to the team by Binance showed that the total trading volume from Nigeria in 2023 alone stood at $21.6 billion.
While the EFCC is currently prosecuting Binance and two of its executives on alleged money laundering charge, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS is prosecuting the company on alleged tax evasion offences.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
