TheCable

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a motion at the federal high court in Enugu for the interim forfeiture of $2.8 million seized last week.

Tony Orilade, spokesperson of the commission, said the EFCC has also filed an affidavit of urgency for the matter to be heard on December 27 by a vacation judge in Port Harcourt.

The commission on Thursday arrested two persons at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, carrying the money in two suitcases. The men were Ighoh Augustine and Ezekwe Emmanuel.

According to the EFCC, the suspects, who said they work for Bankers Warehouse, confessed during interrogation that they had been in the business of moving cash for “some notable banks” for over six years.

“At the time of filing this report, the alleged owner of the money, the bank had not made any physical presence in any of the commission’s offices, including the Enugu office, to establish their claim,” Orilade said.

Orilade further said that efforts were being made to secure a warrant for the detention of the suspects pending when they would be charged to court.

He explained that the warrant was consequent upon the refusal of the bank or any of the relatives to come for the release of the suspects.

Bankers Warehouse in a statement at the weekend claimed ownership of the money and asked the EFCC to apologise and return the money.