Fayose’s vs EFCC | Court Didn't Defreeze Account

A Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday declined Governor Ayo Fayose’s bid to de-freeze his account frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) about two weeks ago.

Rather, Justice Taiwo Taiwo ordered the EFCC and Zenith Bank, the first and second defendants, to come on July 4 to show cause why the order being sought by Governor Fayose should be refused.

The judge held that with the kind of order being sought by Fayose, the defendants must be heard.

Justice Taiwo said he understood that Fayose enjoyed immunity and that the court could adjudicate on the matter as canvassed by his counsel, Mike Ozekhome, but held that the relief he sought was a mandatory order of the court.

“I agree that the applicant has immunity, pursuant to the provisions of the constitution. But it is glaring that the application he is requesting is a mandatory order to undo what had been done and the court can’t abdicate its duty under this circumstance.

“I am of the opinion that this mandatory order is better granted with the interlocutory order being sought through an application pending before the court, because the applicant has filed papers to this effect.

“I hereby ordered the first and second respondents to appear before this court on July 4 and show why the order should be refused," the judge ruled.

The EFCC had on June 21 froze Fayose’s Zenith Bank accounts for allegedly being used to launder over N1.2 billion believed to be part of the arms fund from the office of ex-NSA, Sambo Dasuki.