Akingbola wants court to restrain EFCC, agent on buildings’ rentage

[MrVan]

By INNOCENT ANABA

LAGOS – Dr. Erastus Akingbola, former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, now Access Bank, has challenged plans by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and its agent, Chief E. Etudo, to collect rent on his real property attached by the anti-graft agency in December 2009.

Akingbola is consequently asking a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to restrain the Chairman of EFCC and its agent, Chief Etudo, from demanding  rent, or charges on his property attached by EFCC pending the conclusion of his trial.

Akingbola  is  also praying the court to declare that the order  made on December 12, 2009, in suit between chairman of EFCC himself and the property referred to in the order are not forfeited to the Federal Government.

He also want the court to declared that  EFCC lacks the power and right to appoint Chief Etudo to manage the property referred to in the said  order as property forfeited to the Federal Government.

Akingbola also want the court to determine, among other things, whether upon a consideration  of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 and the order of the court, the property referred to in the said order have been forfeited to the Federal Government.

EFCC has meanwhile opposed the suit, praying the court to reject the application on the grounds that it lacked merit, was frivolous, vexatious and meant to distract  the court.

EFCC argued that Chief Etudo was appointed to manage the attached property in escrow account pending the conclusion of the criminal trial of the applicant, adding that though Akingbola was restrained from dealing with the property known as Amazing Grace Plaza in  the said order of court,  he had through a company known as Amazing Inspiration Media Limited collected N10.8 million as two years rent from Samsung Nigeria Limited, one of the tenants of the attached property at Amazing Grace Plaza.

Vanguard Nigeria