On Thursday, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, vacated an order freezing the Micoz Bluelink Enterprise’s $163,592 domiciled in the United Bank for Africa (UBA).
The judge in a ruling berated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for obtaining the order without concrete evidence.
He held that the commission failed to provide evidence that the funds constituted proceeds of fraud or any crime committed either in Nigeria or elsewhere.
Justice Nwite, who agreed with the company’s argument, said the EFCC bore the burden of proving its case but failed to do so.
He consequently set aside the interim order made on September 9, 2024, freezing the funds in Micoz Bluelink Enterprise’s account.
The ruling followed an application filed by Akpasi Oziegbe (trading under the name and style of Micoz Bluelink Enterprise) against the order.
The enterprise was incorporated by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in 2021 to carry on the business of general trading and distribution, haulage, automobiles and spare parts, general merchandise, and general contracts.
The EFCC had in its motion ex-parte, sought an interim order freezing the company’s bank account.
In its affidavit deposed to by its investigator, Austin Elem, the commission averred that on July 14, 2022, Micoz Bluelink received an inflow of $163,592 to its account with UBA from the law firm of Steve J. Mandel.