Justice Ayokunle Faaji of a Federal High Court, Lagos, has fixed July 21 to hear all applications relating to $667,000 dollars alleged fraud laundered through Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.
Justice Faaji had empowered the Police Special Fraud Unit, PSFU, Ikoyi at the last adjourned date, May 25, to place a lien on all the affected 35 accounts allegedly use to perpetrate the fraud, after listening to the police lawyer, CSP. Emmanuel Jackson, who led Supol Justine Enang, who moved an exparte application to that effect.
The 35 accounts which were allegedly been used to laundered the said sum were: 205/153068; 228/678179; 402/649701; 220/876518; 224/980764; 220/877573; 220/877598; 220/885941: 209/822101; 209/823832; 246/296004; 246/297322; 265/231545: 265/231511.
Others are; 265/229254; 246/340436; 265/231542; 265/231625; 220/885852, 209/839097; 214/8682312; 220/886856; 220/886871; 220/886875; 246/340330; 246/344649; 251/292171; 251/292201; 265/231490; 220/886879; 220/886839; 220/886802; 251/292261; 265/231474 and 220/886811.
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The Police Special Fraud Unit, PSFU, had dragged Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Plc and two others before the court, over alleged fraudulently lodging the said sum through 35 accounts with the bank.
Others joined with GTB Plc in a suit marked FHC/L/CS/586/2020, are: Albert Austine Ugochukwu and a limited liability company, Tasmara Integrated Services Limited.
PSFU in an affidavit attached with the motion ex parte and deposed by one of its investigators Shaibu Friday, said that he was directed by the Commissioner of Police to investigate a case of obtaining the sum of $667,000 and money laundering based on a petition dated March 26, 2020.
Adding that the petition was written by one Segun Fadahunsi, General Manager and Lanre Kasim, Senior Manager both of Guaranty Trust Bank Headquarters, Lagos, against one Albert Austin Ugochukwu former staff of GTB Plc, of obtaining the sum of $667, 000, using a company known as Tasmara Integrated Services Limited to open about 35 different accounts number which were used by him to launder money.
It stated that the funds they are investigating are proceeds of fraud and stand the risk of being dissipated by the suspect unless the court restrains GTB Plc from posting debit or allowing withdrawals from the said accounts under investigation pending the conclusion of police investigation, adding that, it will be in the interest of justice to grant this application.
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At today proceedings, counsel to the former banker, Mr. Ebun Adegboruwa (SAN), told the court that he had served all parties in the suit with his client’s motion to discharge the exparte order and an application to dismiss the applicant’s (Commissioner of Police) motion on notice against the respondent.
Also, counsel to the GT Bank, Mr. Seni Adio (SAN) told the court that he was just been briefed of the matter and that he needed time to respond to the exbanker’s application.
He therefore asked the court for a short date to enable him responded to the exbanker’s applications.
On the side of the police, Mr. Enang, who stood in for CSP Jackson, told the court that he had responded to the respondents’ applications.
After entertaining submission of counsels, Justice Faaji adjourned the matter for hearing of all applications.
