A Federal High Court in Abuja has approved the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) application to freeze 24 bank accounts domiciled in different banks over allegations of terrorism financing. Justice Emeka Nwite, who granted the application after the EFCC’s lawyer, Martha Babatunde, moved an ex-parte motion to the effect, gave the commission the go-ahead to freeze the accounts for 90 days pending the conclusion of the investigation.

Galaxy Televison reports that the motion ex-parte, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1897/V/2024, was filed by Ekele Iheanacho, SAN. Iheanacho who sought an order freezing the bank accounts stated in the schedule, which accounts are owned by Lawrence Lucky Eromosele, who is currently being investigated in a case involving kidnapping pending the conclusion of the investigation.

He said the bank accounts in respect of which the reliefs were sought are subject matters of investigation by the EFCC in relation to money laundering and terrorism financing. The senior lawyer said the preliminary investigation conducted thus far revealed that the bank accounts are linked to persons who take advantage of the virtual cryptocurrency exchange platforms to illegally manipulate the value of the naira and launder proceeds of unlawful activities.

In the affidavit deposed to by Mohammed Khalil, an investigator attached to the Special Investigation Team of the EFCC domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), he said he was a member of the team assigned to investigate the matter. He said the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, directed the team to investigate a serious threat by a syndicate threatening the lives of senior operatives of the NSA by making demands for payments of ransom.

Upon resumed hearing, Babatunde, who appeared for the EFCC, informed the court that the motion was dated and filed on Dec. 17. She said the motion prayed for an order freezing the bank accounts in the schedule attached to the application.

The lawyer urged the court to grant the relief. When Justice Nwite asked her for how long the investigation would be conducted, Babatunde said within 90 days. The judge, who granted the prayer, adjourned the matter until 24th March 2025 for mention.