The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) permission to freeze 24 bank accounts suspected of being tied to terrorism financing.
Justice Emeka Nwite approved the request following an ex-parte application filed by the EFCC’s counsel, Martha Babatunde. The accounts, owned by Lawrence Lucky Eromosele, are under investigation for alleged money laundering and links to a kidnapping-related terrorism case.
The court order permits the accounts to remain frozen for 90 days while investigations continue. The application, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1897/V/2024, was filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Ekele Iheanacho, who outlined the accounts’ connection to an ongoing probe into illicit financial activities.
According to Mohammed Khalil, an EFCC investigator, the accounts are allegedly used to launder money via cryptocurrency platforms and manipulate the naira’s value. Khalil, part of the Special Investigation Team under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), disclosed that the investigation was launched after instructions from National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to address threats posed by a ransom-seeking syndicate targeting high-ranking officials.
The investigation identified Eromosele as a key suspect. Khalil provided evidence of direct threats against operatives and their families, including extortion attempts and detailed personal information shared by the perpetrators. These threats were corroborated by conversation printouts, submitted as Exhibit EFCC 1.
Further intelligence revealed that the frozen accounts facilitated money laundering for terrorist activities, prompting the EFCC to request the freezing order. During the hearing, Babatunde emphasized the urgency of preserving the funds while investigations continue. She assured the court that the probe would conclude within the 90-day window.
Justice Nwite granted the request and adjourned the case to March 24, 2025, for further proceeding
