In continuation of its crackdown on forex racketeers, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has pencilled for investigation, 1,146 bank accounts belonging to individuals and companies over alleged money laundering, unauthorised dealing in foreign exchange and illegal naira manipulation.
The commission secured an interim order granted by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, freezing the accounts.
Justice Nwite delivered the ruling on April 24, but our correspondent obtained the certified true copy of the interim order on Monday.
He delivered the ruling on an ex-parte motion moved by counsel for the anti-graft agency, Ekele Iheanacho and granted the commission’s application to conclude the investigation within 90 days.
The EFCC had told the court that the accounts were linked to persons taking advantage of crypto-currency to illegally manipulate the naira value.
Illegal forex accounts
In a move to curb the free fall of the naira against dollars and other foreign currencies, the commission had earlier frozen 300 illegal forex accounts trading on a peer-to-peer platform.
The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, a few weeks ago revealed that the accounts were suspended last week Monday following a court order.
He explained that over $15bn passed through one of the forex platforms in the last year, outside the financial regulations, noting that the EFCC action was taken to ensure the safety of the foreign exchange market and protect the economy.
The agency had in February set up a 7000-man task force to go after forex speculators and racketeers.
The task force conducted several raids in Abuja, arresting currency traders suspected to be forex speculators.
It also arrested some perpetrators issuing invoices in dollars and mutilating the naira in Lagos and Rivers states.
As part of moves to strengthen the naira, the Federal Government through the Nigerian Communications Commission blocked the online platforms of Binance and other crypto firms to avert what it considered continuous manipulation of the forex market and illicit movement of funds.
The government also detained two senior executives of Binance, a crypto-currency exchange company.
Before the slew of fiscal measures and law enforcement actions launched by the government, the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, had met with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Yemi Cardoso and the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, to proffer solutions to the naira crisis.
Speaking against the backdrop of the apex bank’s battle to stabilise the exchange rate amid dollar shortage when he appeared before the House of Representatives, Cardoso disclosed that Nigerians spent $98bn in 10 years on foreign education, healthcare and personal travels, which had impacted the naira.
He pointed out that the foreign exchange market was facing increased demand pressures, causing a continuous decline in the value of the naira.
According to him, factors contributing to this situation include speculative forex demand, inadequate forex due to low remittance of crude oil earnings to the CBN, increased capital outflows, and excess liquidity from fiscal activities.
To address exchange rate volatility, he said a comprehensive strategy had been initiated to enhance liquidity in the forex market.
This includes unifying FX market segments, clearing outstanding FX obligations, introducing new operational mechanisms for Bureau De Change operators, enforcing the Net Open Position limit for commercial banks, and adjusting the remunerable Standing Deposit Facility cap.
Delivering his ruling on the ex-parte application brought by the EFCC, Justice Nwite said, “It is hereby ordered as follows: That the applicant’s application is hereby granted as prayed.
Money laundering
“That an order of this honourable court is hereby made freezing the bank accounts stated in the schedule below which accounts are owned by various individuals who are currently being investigated in a case involving the offences of unauthorised dealing in foreign exchange, money laundering and terrorism financing to the extent that the investigation will be for a period of 90 days.”
The EFCC, in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/543/2024 dated and filed April 24 by Iheanacho, was heard by the judge the same day in the national interest.
The motion was brought under section 44(2) and (K) of the 1999 Constitution; section 34 of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004; section 7(8) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
The agency had sought the order freezing the bank accounts stated in the schedule attached to the motion pending the conclusion of the investigation.
Giving three grounds upon which the reliefs were sought, it said: “The bank accounts in respect of which the reliefs are sought are subject matters of investigation by the EFCC about money laundering and terrorism financing.
“That preliminary investigation conducted thus far reveals that the bank accounts are linked to persons who take advantage of the virtual crypto-currency exchange platforms to illegally manipulate the value of naira and launder proceeds of unlawful activities.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
