A Federal High Court in Lagos Friday froze three bank accounts belonging to one Ajineh Pius Erovwose, being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an alleged $500,000 fraud.
The accounts are domiciled in First City Monument Bank (FCMB), United Bank of Africa (UBA) and Union Bank Plc.
Justice Sule Hassan made the order following an application by EFCC counsel George Chia-Yakua.
He froze the account, pending the conclusion of the EFCC’s investigation.
Justice Hassan held: “I have listened carefully to the submission of the applicant’s counsel, and gone through the summons with the affidavit of urgency, affidavit in support, written addresses and the exhibit attached.
“This application succeeds and the prayer sought is granted”.
In an affidavit in support of the application deposed to by EFCC investigator, Paul Okoli, the agency said it got intelligence that Erovwose defrauded an American of $500,000 under false pretence through the said bank accounts.
It asked the banks to place Post No Debit (PND) on the accounts, but Erovwose obtained a magistrates’ court order setting aside the PND.
The suspect allegedly withdrew the $500,000, leaving a balance of $14,000 before absconding.
The anti-graft agency said the addresses used to open the said accounts were discovered to be fictitious and that it would be difficult to conclude the investigation or arrest Erovwose unless the accounts were barred.
