Seized $9.8m Cash: Court Fixes Nov 1 for Judgement in Former NNPC GMD’s Suit against EFCC

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, fixed November 11, for judgement in the suit filed by a former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Ekwo fixed the date for judgement shortly after parties adopted and argued their final written addresses in the suit. The suit specifically sought an order of the court compelling the anti-graft agency to release the sum of $9.8 million cash seized in his Kaduna residence in 2017.

The commission had carried out a sting operation at a house linked to Yakubu, following information that large sums of hard currency were being warehoused at the residence.

Following the seizure of the sum of $9.8 million discovered during the operation, the former GMD was then arraigned before the Federal High Court, Abuja, over charges bordering on money laundering.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge and Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, at the end of trial last year, after holding that the EFCC failed to prove its case against Yakubu subsequently quashed the money laundering charge against the defendant.

Besides, the court, having acquitted the former NNPC boss, ordered the release of his money to him, an order the anti-graft agency refused to comply with, resulting in the instant case.

By way of originating summons, Yakubu through his lawyer, Mr Ahmed Raji, 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 judgement of the Federal High Court.

However, after listening to the submissions of parties, the judge announced that judgement was fixed for November 1, this year.