EFCC goes to court seeking interim forfeiture of $2.8m it seized at Enugu airport

NIGERIA'S Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a motion with a Federal High Court in Enugu for the interim forfeiture of the $2.8m it confiscated at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport last week.

Last Thursday, the EFCC seized the money and arrested two men carrying it, believing that the cash either belonged to politicians who were laundering it, or looking to purchase arms with the cash. There were also suspicions that the money could have been set aside to buy votes ahead of next year's elections, prompting the EFCC to seize it and deposit the cash at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Enugu.

Following their arrest, however, the two suspects claimed they were legitimate businessmen, adding that the cash belonged to Union Bank and Bankers Warehouse, a cash-in-transit contractor. Confirming this, Union Bank strongly denied any wrongdoing, saying the practice of moving money around its branches was standard in the banking industry and its contractors were licensed by the CBN.

However, the EFCC said that neither Union Bank nor Bankers Warehouse has come forward to claim the money, so it was seeking a court order to forfeit the money. EFCC spokesman Tony Orilade, added that the agency has also filed alongside the motion, an affidavit of urgency for the matter to be heard on December 27, before a vacation judge in Port Harcourt.

He added: “At the time of filing this report, the alleged owner of the money Union Bank, had not made any physical presence in any of the commission’s offices, including the Enugu office, to establish their claim. The warrant is consequent upon the refusal of the bank or any of the relatives to come for the release of the suspects.”

According to the EFCC, the two arrested suspects had confessed during interrogation that they had been in the business of moving cash for some notable banks, for over six years and were in the process of doing same for Union Bank, Onitsha, in Anambra State, before their arrest. However, Bankers Warehouse said the agency’s actions constituted a threat to its operations and the lives of its employees.

Bankers Warehouse called on the CBN to intervene but the EFCC claimed that the company and Union Bank, have not come forward to any of its offices to reclaim the confiscated money. Meanwhile, the EFCC added that efforts were being made to secure a warrant for the detention of the suspects pending when they will be charged to court.