Alleged $667k Fraud: Court Discharges Freezing Orders On Ex-Banker’s Accounts
Justice Ayokunle Faji of a Federal High Court, Lagos, has dismissed a suit filed by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, seeking to freeze 35 accounts belonging to a former banker, Albert Austine Ugochukwu and his company, Tasmara Integrated Services Limited, over alleged $667, 000 USD fraud.
Justice Faji dismissed the suit, sequel to the affidavit of fact filed and argued by PSFU’s Officer-in-Charge of Legal Department, Mr. Emmanuel Jackson, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP).
The court has sometimes in May, while granting an exparte application filed and argued by Mr. Jackson, ordered that a lien be placed on the said 35 accounts pending the conclusion of investigation on them by the police.
The 35 accounts which were allegedly been used to laundered the said sum by the former banker are: 205/153068; 228/678179; 402/649701; 220/876518; 224/980764; 220/877573; 220/877598; 220/885941: 209/822101; 209/823832; 246/296004; 246/297322; 265/231545: 265/231511.
Others are; 265/229254; 246/340436; 265/231542; 265/231625; 220/885852, 209/839097; 214/8682312; 220/886856; 220/886871; 220/886875; 246/340330; 246/344649; 251/292171; 251/292201; 265/231490; 220/886879; 220/886839; 220/886802; 251/292261; 265/231474 and 220/886811.
The accounts were said to be domiciled in a new generation bank.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Tuesday, CSP Jackson, who led Mr. Justine Enang, a Superintendent of Police, while moving the the affidavit of fact, for the discharge of the order on the accounts, told the court that the police have concluded investigation on the said 35 accounts, and found not be used for any criminal act.
Consequently, CSP Jackson urged the court to discharge the order placing lien on the said 35 accounts.
Following the submission of the police lawyer, Justice Faji, pronounced that “the order of the court placing lien on the 35 accounts bonging to the second and third respondent is hereby discharged”.
With the above court’s pronouncement, both Mr. Ugbochukwu and his his company, Tasmara Integrated Services Limited, over alleged $667, 000 USD fraud.
Counsel to the former banker, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), commended the PSFU for conducting a thorough investigation, which he said exonerated his clients.
