Court grants ICPC’s request to freeze bank accounts linked to ex-Gov Yari

The Federal High Court Abuja, on Friday, gave the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) a go-ahead to freeze the Polaris and Zenith Bank accounts linked to the immediate-past Governor of Zamfara, Abdulaziz Yari, pending the conclusion of its investigation.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the account numbers, with United States (US) dollars and Nigerian naira, are domiciled in Zenith and Polaris Banks.

ICPC had sought the court order in an exparte motion with file number: CS/916/19 brought by its Counsel, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, to freeze the ex-governor’s accounts.

Akponimisingha, who is a Senior Legal Officer with the commission, said the motion exparte was dated Aug. 5 and filed on Aug. 6.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Yari, Kayatawa Nigeria Limited and B.T. Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited are 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents respectively.

The lawyer told Justice Taiwo Taiwo that the commission sought the order of the court based on the law that gives the court the jurisdiction to hear the case.

He said the motion was brought in accordance with “Section 17 (1), (2), (3) and (4) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006; Section 48 (1), (2) and (3) (a) and (b) of the Corruption Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, and Section 6 (6) (a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”

The council stated that the Zenith Bank account numbers include: 1001381684 with N12.9m; 1010757436 with. 11.1m; 5360050304 with $301, 319.99; 1012556798 with N217, 388.04; 5364669609 with $311, 872.15 and the Polaris account number: 2110000928 with $56, 056.75.

He said the motion prayed for 10 orders “and nine orders are the main while the tenth order is omnibus.”

According to him, the applicant is praying the court for an order of interim forfeiture of all the funds being proceeds of some unlawful activity allegedly stashed in the Zenith and Polaris Banks.

He explained that the Zenith Bank account numbers: 1001381684 was in the name of Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari; 1010757436 and 5360050304 were in the name of Kayatawa Nigeria Limited.

He said while the Polaris Bank account number: 2110000928 was in the name of Mr Yari, the Zenith Bank account numbers: 1012556798 and 5364669609 were in the name of B.T. Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.

Akponimisingha, who said that the respondents did not acquire the alleged funds legitimately, said the commission received an intelligent report that the respondents involved in some unlawful activity against the interest of the Zamfara State government and by extension the Federal Government of Nigeria.

He said that while the 1st respondent was the immediate-past Governor of Zamfara State, the 2nd and 3rd respondents are limited liability companies registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) with the 1st respondent (Yari) as director and shareholder respectively.

“We pray for an order restraining any person or persons, whether human, juristic or artificial, not to part with, deal with, deal in or otherwise dispose of such property or any part thereof the said accounts pending the determination of the matter,” he said.

He also urged the judge to direct Zenith and Polaris Banks to fix the alleged proceeds of crime in the aforesaid accounts in interest yielding accounts pending the respondents’ show cause why the funds should not be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

In his ruling, Justice Taiwo, who granted nine of the prayers sought by the ICPC, asked the commission to put the respondents on notice and the publication be made in The Punch Newspaper within seven days, excluding today (Aug. 16).

He also said that the respondents should within 14 days file an affidavit on why the money should not be forfeited. The judge thereafter adjourned the matter till Sept. 11.