Court unfreezes Ozekhome’s account with N75m

An order restricting a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome from accessing N75m in his GTB account was on Monday, lifted by a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on February secured an order restricting Ozekhome from accessing the N75m which he claimed was legal fees paid by Ekiti governor, Ayodele Fayose.

According to the anti-graft agency, the money was part of N2.26bn arms procurement funds, allegedly looted by former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

[Read Also: Frozen N75m in Ozekhome’s account, part of Dasuki’s loot – EFCC]

Justice Abdulaziz Anka on Monday lifted the restriction on the account.

Anka said Ozekhome could not be held liable for funds sent from Fayose’s account.

Justice Anka held, “There is no argument whatsoever as to the source of the funds as rightly argued by the learned counsel for the EFCC, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, but the question is: can the respondent/applicant be liable for any infraction as of the time he received the amount in his account?

“His evidence was not controverted that the same proceeds were unencumbered as of the time they were transferred into the account of Mike Ozekhome Chambers as rightly argued by Chief Mike Ozekhome.

“The Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, Coram Taiwo J, ordered that the unfreezing of the said account belonging to Governor Ayodele Fayose.

“…considering the order above quoted and the depositions, I do not understand or comprehend why the applicant/respondent’s counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, would still argue and stand his ground that the same account has not be unfrozen by the Federal High Court sitting in Ekiti State.

“In both the order and the depositions, the account numbered 1000312625, was evidently and manifestly unfrozen, such an argument, therefore, by Mr Oyedepo Esq cannot hold water.”

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