The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Enugu Zonal
Office, has filed a motion at a Federal High Court, Enugu, seeking an
order for the interim forfeiture of the $2.8million seized from two
men last week.
Office, has filed a motion at a Federal High Court, Enugu, seeking an
order for the interim forfeiture of the $2.8million seized from two
men last week.
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| Arrested suspects |
Also filed is an affidavit of urgency for the matter to be heard on
December 27, 2018, before a vacation Judge sitting in Port Harcourt.
December 27, 2018, before a vacation Judge sitting in Port Harcourt.
The Commission on December 20 arrested two persons, Ighoh Augustine
and Ezekwe Emmanuel, along with the money at Akanu Ibiam International
Airport, Enugu.
and Ezekwe Emmanuel, along with the money at Akanu Ibiam International
Airport, Enugu.
The duo said they work for Bankers Warehouse. But EFCC suspected they were money launderers.
The suspects told the EFCC they have been in the business of moving
cash for “some notable banks”, for over six years and that the money
they had was for Union Bank Plc, located at New Market, Onitsha, Anambra
State.
cash for “some notable banks”, for over six years and that the money
they had was for Union Bank Plc, located at New Market, Onitsha, Anambra
State.
The EFCC spokesman , Tony Orilade said on Monday that Union Bank or
its officials were yet to step forward to establish their claim.
its officials were yet to step forward to establish their claim.
“Efforts are being made to secure warrant for the detention of the
suspects pending when they will be charged to court”, he said.
suspects pending when they will be charged to court”, he said.
Bankers Warehouse in a statement at the weekend claimed ownership of
the money and asked the EFCC to apologise and return the money.
the money and asked the EFCC to apologise and return the money.
The company which said it is licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria
to carry out Cash/Asset movement and Currency Processing said the men
arrested were not involved in any money laundering and were carrying out
a legitimate movement of cash.
to carry out Cash/Asset movement and Currency Processing said the men
arrested were not involved in any money laundering and were carrying out
a legitimate movement of cash.
“We hereby state emphatically that the movement of this currency was a
legitimate exercise, being carried out on behalf of a legitimate
Financial Institution,” the company said..
legitimate exercise, being carried out on behalf of a legitimate
Financial Institution,” the company said..
“We emphasize that our employees are in no way criminals, carrying
out any act of illegality as the EFCC has tried to portray. The young
men whose character and reputation have been deliberately soiled by the
EFCC operatives were conducting their legitimate duties as requested by a
bank customer of our company.
out any act of illegality as the EFCC has tried to portray. The young
men whose character and reputation have been deliberately soiled by the
EFCC operatives were conducting their legitimate duties as requested by a
bank customer of our company.
“We request for the swift and immediate release of our employees and
our customer’s currency, both detained without proper cause.
our customer’s currency, both detained without proper cause.
“We also demand an immediate retraction by the EFCC and an apology
issued to our company and our employees whose images have been
maligned”.
issued to our company and our employees whose images have been
maligned”.
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