Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja has fixed November 1 to deliver judgment on the legal battle to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release the sum of $9.8 million cash seized from the former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu in his Kaduna residence since 2017.
Yakubu sued the EFCC, Central Bank of Nigeria and a commercial Bank for their refusal to release the money after a high court in Abuja discharged and acquitted him from money laundering charges brought against him by the anti-graft agency.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had on March 31, 2022 quashed the money laundering charges instituted against Yakubu after the EFCC discovered $9, 772, 800 and £74, 000 in an apartment linked to him in 2017.
The EFCC had asked Justice Ahmed Mohammed to convict Yakubu for an offence of money laundering and also order forfeíture of the money to the federal government.
The huge sum is being allegedly withheld by the anti- graft agency in violation of a subsisting order of court.
At the final hearing of his legal battle against EFCC on Monday, Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo fixed November 1 to deliver judgment in the suit on the money seizure.
But Ahmed Raji SAN, lawyer to the ex-NNPC GMD raised an objection to the trial on the ground that the monies 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.
However, Yakubu’s lawyer returned to court claiming that the money 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.