A Lagos Federal high court has ordered that the accounts of the current speaker of Lagos state house of Assembly Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa frozen since the year 2020 be unfreeze.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo issued the order based on an affidavit sworn to by Mr. Mudashiru Obasa and filed and argued before the court by his lawyer Mr.Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika SAN.
Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, in an affidavit he sworn to, aver that he is Male, Nigerian, Adult, Legislator of Lagos State House of Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
The oath reads this: “I am the Respondent/Applicant in this suit and the account numbers 0001852963, 0001852956 and 5002349821 with Standard Chartered Bank belongs to me.
“On the 15th day of September, 2020, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (“EFCC”) obtained orders to freeze my accounts stated in paragraphs above.
”Since the “Temporary attachment” of the funds and my bank accounts three years ago, I have not been charged with any offence either by the EFCC or any other law enforcement agency.
”I have written Letters to the EFCC stating that I have very urgent financial needs which include loans to be serviced from the frozen accounts, attention to my failing health and to see to my general well-being.
“Unless this Application is heard timeously during the vacation of this honourable court, my creditors may take drastic actions against me which may lead to my being declared bankrupt, a situation which may will definitely affect my political career and my fragile health.
“It is in the interest of justice that the Petition be heard urgently and determined expeditiously during the long vacation of this Court.
“I make this Affidavit conscientiously, believing in the truth of its contents and in accordance with the Oaths Law of Lagos State.”
“An order setting aside the Ex parte Orders of this Court made on the 15th day of September 2020 upon the Ex parte Motion of the EFCC in relation to the funds of the Respondent/Applicant domiciled in the accounts stated in the following schedule file before the court
“I am also aware that the writers of the Petition upon which the EFCC acted have upon revelation of the truth withdrawn their Petition.
“Since the “Temporary attachment” of the funds and my bank accounts three years ago, I have not been charged with any offence either by the EFCC or any other law enforcement agency.
“I am of the firm belief that it will be in the interest of justice to discharge the three-year old order of “temporary” attachment of my bank accounts and funds particularly since the EFCC has not charged me with any crime.”
The funds in the Respondent/Applicant’s accounts are his legitimate earnings.
In his ruling justice Nicholas Oweibo said: “Upon reading through the Affidavit in Support of Motion on Notice and with the Exhibits attached therein, deposed to by Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, Male,
Nigerian, Adult, Legislator of Lagos State House of Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos and a Written Address dated 1st day of August, 2023 and filed at this Court Registry on the on 2nd day of August, 2023 and the submissions of
A.Olumide-Fusika, SAN, with him Martin Chioma, Esq, Learned Counsel for the Respondent/Applicant, who moved in terms of the Motion paper. And S.I. Suleiman, Esq, Learned Counsel for the Applicant/Respondent not opposing the application, and after careful consideration of the applicant and submission of counsel, it is hereby ordered:
– That an order is hereby granted to the respondent(Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa) setting aside the Ex-parte of this court made on the 15th day of September, 2020 upon the Ex-parte Motion of the Applicant in relation to the funds of the Applicant domiciled in the accounts stated in the following schedule
1. MUDASHIRU AJAYI OBASA
STANDARD CHARTERED US DOLLAR
0001852963
2. MUDASHIRU AJAYI OBASA
STANDARD CHARTERED NGN CURRENT
0001852956
3.MUDASHIRU AJAYI OBASA
STANDARD CHARTERED NGN SAVING
5002349821
It was gathered that sometime in August, 2020, the court ordered the three bank accounts of the speaker domiciled in Standard Chartered bank to be frozen base on suspicious unlawful activities.
In an affidavit sworn to by one of the operatives of the EFCC, Muhammad Mahdi Abubakar assigned
to investigate the petition written by Anonymous Whistle Blowers of Lagos State alleging that the bank accounts number 001852963 US Dollar, 001852956 Nigeria Naira Current, 5002349821 Nigeria Naira Saving are currently being investigated for offences of conspiracy, diversion of fund, abuse of office and money laundering should be temporarily attached pending the conclusion of investigation and possible prosecution of the offences alleged.