The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to freeze the United Bank for Africa (UBA) account of Cyriacus Njoku, a Nigerian resident in Germany, over an alleged criminal breach of trust.
Justice Ekerete Akpan granted the order on Wednesday following the submission of an ex-parte motion by EFCC counsel, G.I. Ndeh.
Ndeh informed the court that the motion, dated 16 June, was filed on 17 June, and supported by a 17-paragraph affidavit and two exhibits marked EFCC-1 and EFCC-2, alongside a written address.
In a brief ruling, Justice Akpan directed that the account be frozen for 14 days.
“This application is granted in terms of prayers 1 and 2. The order shall remain in force only for 14 days commencing from today and the order shall elapse after 14 days,” the judge ruled.
StarReporters reports that the EFCC, in motion FHC/ABJ/CS/1178/2025, sought two key orders: one to freeze the funds in Njoku’s UBA account pending the outcome of investigations or possible prosecution, and another directing UBA to place a ‘Post No Debit’ (PND) restriction on the account.
In an affidavit deposed to by EFCC legal assistant Ufuoma Ezire, the commission said it received a petition via email on 28 January from one Mary Njoku, a Japanese resident of Nigerian descent.
According to the petition, Mary claimed she had been financially supporting Njoku’s education in Nigeria and Germany for over two years. In 2023, she secured admission into a Canadian institution and entrusted Njoku with $14,000, paid in two instalments on 27 and 30 June 2023, to remit to the school from Nigeria using his UBA domiciliary account.
However, when her Canadian visa was denied, the school refunded $13,353.90 into Njoku’s account on 27 May 2024. Despite repeated efforts, Mary alleged, Njoku refused to refund the money and ceased all communication.
Ezire stated that as of 30 April, the account held a balance of $13,386.24, including accrued interest.
“The commission reasonably suspects that the funds in the suspect’s account represent the proceeds of criminal breach of trust and are liable to be preserved pending conclusion of investigation and possible prosecution,” Ezire said.
He added that the order was necessary to prevent the dissipation of funds and protect the petitioner from further financial loss.
(NAN)