A former group managing director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Andrew Yakubu, will know his fate on November 1 as the court rules on the suit he filed to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release to him $9.8 million in cash seized in his Kaduna residence since 2017.
The cash was allegedly seized by the commission in violation of a subsisting court order.
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Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo fixed November 1, 2023, to deliver judgment in the suit.
Yakubu dragged the EFCC, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and a commercial bank for their refusal to release the money after a high court in Abuja discharged and acquitted him of money laundering charges brought against him by the anti-graft agency.
A Federal High Court in Abuja quashed the money laundering charges instituted against Yakubu on March 31, 2022, after the EFCC discovered $9, 772, 800, and £74, 000 in an apartment linked to him in 2017.
The EFCC had asked Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed to convict Yakubu for an offense of money laundering and also order forfeiture of the money to the Federal Government.
But Ahmed Raji, SAN, lawyer for the ex-NNPC GMD, raised an objection to the trial on the ground that the money found in Yakubu’s house were gifts from friends and associates.
Justice Mohammed had agreed with the defendant’s submissions, acquitted him and ordered the release of his money to him which EFCC refused to comply with.
Yakubu’s lawyer returned to court claiming that the monies had not been released as directed by the court.
By way of originating summons, he asked the court to order the release of the money or in the alternative, direct that the money be deposited with the Federal High Court registrar pending the determination of the suit.
But the EFCC, through its lawyer, Faruk Abdullah, raised objection to the application saying appeals have been entered before the Court of Appeal in Abuja against the judgment of the Federal High Court.
At Monday’s proceedings, Justice Ekwo, after taking arguments from parties involved in the suit, fixed November 1 to give a verdict on whether to compel the EFCC to release the money or not.