Former NNPC GMD Sues EFCC over $9.8m Seizure

By Adedapo Adesanya

A former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mr Andrew Yakubu, has sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged refusal to release his $9.8 million after a court acquitted him of fraud charges last year.

In the case filed before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja, Mr Yakubu is asking the court to determine whether the EFCC ought to still have in its custody his seized monies after the judgement.

The summon through his counsel, Ahmed Raji, is seeking an order directing the defendants to immediately release the monies to him pending the determination of the EFCC’s appeal.

Mr Yakubu also wants an order directing the defendants to immediately transfer the said monies into an account under the control of the Federal High Court’s chief registrar or into an account to be operated by the chief registrar, the EFCC, and him — pending the determination of the appeal.

However, the EFCC, in a notice of preliminary objection, prayed the court to dismiss Yakubu’s application.

The counsel of the commission, Mr Faruk Abdullah, said the suit was an abuse of the court process, adding that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter owing to appeals pending before superior courts.

In an affidavit supporting the motion, the EFCC argued that most of Yakubu’s depositions did not reflect the correct position of the case.

The matter has been adjourned to May 18 for a hearing.

For context, On February 3, 2017, operatives of the EFCC raided the property of the former NNPC GMD in Kaduna and recovered the sum of $9.8 million and £74,000 stashed in a fireproof safe.

He was alleged to have omitted the contested amount from the EFCC asset declaration form given to him to fill in 2015.

He was arraigned before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court Abuja on March 16, 2017, on a six-count charge bordering on money laundering and false declaration of assets.

However, in March 2022, the judge discharged and acquitted Mr Yakubu of the charges.