The legal battle to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release to him $9.8 million cash seized in his Kaduna residence since 2017 has been fixed for November 1.
Andrew Yakubu, a former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) got his money allegedly withheld by the anti- graft agency in violation of a subsisting order of court.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had on March 31, 2022 quashed the money laundering charges instituted against Yakubu after the EFCC discovered $9, 772, 800 (9.7 million dollars) and £74, 000 in an apartment linked to him in 2017.
But at the final hearing of his legal battle against EFCC on Monday, Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo, fixed November 1 to deliver judgment in the suit on the money seizure.
Yakubu, it will be recalled, sued the agency, Central Bank of Nigeria and a Commercial Bank for their refusal to release the money after a high court in Abuja discharged and acquitted him of money laundering brought against him.
The EFCC had asked Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed to convict Yakubu for an offence of money laundering and also order forfeíture of the money to the federal government.
But Ahmed Raji, SAN, lawyer to the ex-NNPC GMD, raised objection to the trial on the ground that the monies found in Yakubu’s house were gifts from friends and associates.
Justice Mohammed had agreed with the defendant’s submissions, acquitted him and ordered the release of his money to him which EFCC refused to comply with.
But Yakubu’s lawyer returned to court claiming that the monies had not been released as directed by the court.
