Frozen Legal Fees: Court Fixes March 2 To Hear Ozekhome’s Suit

By Ogbolu George

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Thursday, has fixed March 2 for the hearing of Mike Ozekhome (SAN) suit seeking to vacate the order freezing his firm’s bank account.

On Feb. 7, the court ordered a temporary forfeiture of N75 million found in Ozekhome’s Guaranty Trust Bank account following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

EFCC was not represented in the court when the case was called up on Thursday.

Justice Abdulazeez Anka ordered that a hearing notice be issued to the Commission.

Mike Ozekhome said his suit was filed on Feb. 14 and EFCC was served on Feb. 20.

Justice Anka, however said that the EFCC still have time to respond, adding that the commission is entitled to seven days and they should be allowed their clear seven days.

Ozekhome, who is seeking a vacation of the interim forfeiture order, said that the EFCC did not comply with the statutory and judicial authorities in obtaining an interim order through a motion ex-parte.

He said the actions of the commission is unconstitutional as same offends constitutional provisions.

Ozekhome said that the EFCC did not disclose to the court that a Justice of the Federal High court in Ekiti had unfrozen Governor Ayodele Fayose’s account.

He said the unfreezing order allowed Fayose to transfer N75 million legal fees to his chambers’ account.

Ozekhome also said the issue whether the said amount was from proceeds of crime was currently on appeal.

”The entire gamut of the application leading to the granting of the interim order ex-parte amounts to forum shopping and a calculated attempt to over-reach me,” Ozekhome said.

Justice Anka adjourned the suit to March 2.