Court Freezes Alleged Drug Traffickers’ Accounts In 3 Banks

Justice Tijjani Ringim of the Federal High Court, Lagos has placed a “post-no-debit status/lien” on the accounts of two alleged drug traffickers domiciled in three commercial banks in Nigeria.

The alleged drug kingpins, whose accounts were blocked by the court are Nnaemeka John Nwaozor and Levi Onwubiko Nwagu. They are currently being detained in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) detention facility in Lagos.

Justice Ringim temporarily ordered that the accounts be frozen after entertaining a motion filed ex-parte and argued by the lawyer to the NDLEA, Umar Hussaini, in a suit marked FHC/L/CS/569/2023.

Hussaini had earlier told the judge that the orders sought were to enable NDLEA conclude its investigation and prosecution.

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The lawyer specifically asked the court for the following reliefs: “An order of the court directing the placing of ‘lien/post no- debit status on the following account numbers: Ecobank Plc with account numbers: 2951023182 to belonging to the fourth respondent (Nnaemeka John Nwaozor) presently under the NDLEA custody, for 90 days pending the conclusion of investigations in the matter.

“An order of the court directing the placing of ‘lien/post no-debit status on the account numbers… belonging to the fifth respondent (Levi Onwubiko Nwogu), at present under the NDLEA custody, for 90 days pending the conclusion of investigations in the matter.

“An order of this honourable court directing the banks to allow the NDLEA inspects and make certified true copies (CTC) of account opening packages, statements of accounts and any relevant documents in their custody in compliance with section 84 of the Evidence Act 2011, for the purposes of investigation with such cooperation afforded them as required by the said law.”

After listening to the prayers, Justice Ringim granted the orders.

Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the same division of the court had on March 30, 2023, remanded the suspected drug dealers in the NDLEA custody till the conclusion of the investigation of the alleged conspiracy, unlawful possession of 1.155 kilogrammes of cocaine and dealing on the same drug.

Awogboro’s remand order was a sequel to the motion ex-parte filed by Umar Hussaini but argued by Paul Awogbuyi.