A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday froze the sum of N206 million belonging to a firm being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged fraud.
The EFCC said it reasonably suspected the money to be part of a fraudulent transaction and proceeds of crime by two respondents – Vermilion Studio Products Limited and a woman, Akintola Olubunmi Vera.

Vacation judge, Justice Abdulaziz Anka, authorised the agency to confiscate the money pending the determination of its investigation and possible prosecution of the case.

Justice Anka made the interim order following an ex parte application filed by the commission’s lawyer, George Chia-Yakua, on August 10.

Chia-Yakua told the judge that the sum was domiciled in two First Bank accounts numbered 3100844602 belonging to Vermilion Studio Products Limited and 3011147218 belonging to Vera.

According to a supporting affidavit filed by an EFCC investigating officer, Paul Ugema, the Commission commenced investigation of the matter after receiving a petition to that effect.

The petition alleged that the respondents diverted over N206million property of Mooncrest Enterprises Nigeria Limited.

“It was discovered that the respondents were making suspicious funds transfer into the accounts subject of investigation.

“I know as a fact that the funds found in the accounts of the respondents are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime,” Ugema said.

The Nigeria Lawyer