Akwa Ibom State has sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for N50 billion following EFCC’s freezing of its account.
This state is claiming N50 billion damages from the commission in a suit it filed in response to the alleged unlawful freezing of its account.
The suit has the state attorney-general as claimant, with EFCC, federal attorney general, Zenith Bank, Skye Bank and United Bank for Africa as defendants.
It queried why the state’s accounts should be unlawfully frozen for over 72 hours.
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Uwemedimo Nwoko said the suit would determine “whether the accounts of Akwa Ibom State government held with banks or financial institutions fall within the financial crimes enforcement purview of Section 34 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Established) Act 2004”
“Whether the account of Akwa Ibom State government with a bank or financial institution can be subjected to a freezing order pursuant to Section 34 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Established) Act 2004”
The writ of summons, dated August 17, issued by Chief Assam E. Assam (SAN), instructed the defendants to appear within 30 days of service or risk judgment given in their absence.
Explaining the summons, Nwoko said the anti-graft agency has no constitutional powers to freeze the state’s account.”
