CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

A federal high court in Abuja has issued an interim order in favour of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) freezing 11 bank accounts.

The CBN had in a motion ex parte dated March 16, prayed the court for an order directing First City Monument Bank (FCMB) to freeze forthwith all transactions in the 11 bank accounts “for a period of 180 days pending the outcome of investigation and inquiry currently being conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

The names of the defendants/respondents are Albert Austin Ugochukwu with two bank accounts; Belfour Energy & Allied Services; Belfour Oil and Gas Limited with three bank accounts; Circle Flow Integrated Services; Kacynaus Reality Nigeria Limited with three bank accounts; and Tasmara Integrated Services.

Upon hearing the application moved by A.T Kohol, CBN counsel, Ahmed Mohammed, granted the application.

“An interim order is made empowering the applicant to direct the head office of First City Monument Bank Ltd to freeze forthwith all transactions on the bank accounts listed on the motion paper for a period of 45 days only pending the outcome of investigation currently being conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria,” the judge ruled

“The order is renewable on expiration but only on good reasons shown.

“The applicant (CBN) shall publish this order on its website within three days from today.

“Any person or persons affected by this order are entitled to approach the court to seek to set aside, discharge or have the order reviewed for good reasons shown.”

The court has fixed May 17, 2021 for mention of the substantive suit.