The EFCC on December 20, 2018 seized the money from two persons at Akanu Ibiam
International Airport, Enugu. The carriers were Ighoh Augustine and Ezekwe Emmanuel,
who were suspected to be money launderers.
While filing application for interim forfeiture on December 24, 2018, the Commission also
filed an affidavit of urgency for the matter to be heard before a vacation Judge sitting in
Port Harcourt.
Justice A.T. Mohammed on December 28 ruled in favour of the Commission, as the court
granted the order of interim forfeiture, pending the determination of the case.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Friday, January 4, 2019, Charles Ajuya, SAN,
appeared for the respondents and prayed the court to vacate the interim order.
But the EFCC counsel, Anasoh Onyedikachi Henry, who filed eight paragraphs Affidavit
of Facts stated the progress made by the commission in the investigation.
He also presented before the court, the newspaper publication in respect of the court order.
The EFCC counsel further argued that the defence was wrong to have asked for vacation of
the court order since the Exparte is still subsisting.
In his ruling, the judge upheld the arguments of the prosecution and said that since the
publication of the interim forfeiture order was a public knowledge, the defence should be
prepared to prove their case rather than come to court seeking for the vacation of the order.
He, however, directed that the case file be transferred to Enugu Division for continuation of
the case, since the court vacation ended on 4 January.
The suspects confessed during interrogation that they had been in the business of moving
cash for “some notable banks”, for over six years and were in the process of doing same for
Union Bank Plc, located at New Market, Onitsha, Anambra State, before their arrest.
They also claimed to be working for Bankers Warehouse Limited.