SAHARA REPORTERS
The bank claims that a court ordered the sale of the property and payment to the bank in 2019, but the EFCC has yet to comply.
Ohha Microfinance Bank Limited has issued an ultimatum to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), demanding that they produce an uncompleted four-bedroom bungalow recovered from a fraudster within three months.
The bank claims that a court ordered the sale of the property and payment to the bank in 2019, but the EFCC has yet to comply.
In a pre-action notice dated January 28, 2025, which SaharaReporters obtained on Wednesday morning, the bank warned that it would sue the EFCC and seek N100 million in compensation if the property is not produced within the stipulated timeframe.
The notice, signed by Olu Omotayo Esq, on behalf of the bank reminded the EFCC chairman of the bank’s petition dated February 9, 2024, which requested the Zonal Office to investigate the matter.
Interestingly, the EFCC had previously convicted a former bank manager, Oliver Anidiobi, for diverting N219 million from OHHA Microfinance Bank. Anidiobi was found guilty of using the funds to build a block of flats, acquire plots of land, and construct an uncompleted four-bedroom bungalow.
“… matter was investigated by the Enugu Zonal office of the Commission and the suspect Oliver Anidiobi charged to the court by the Commission on 7th May 2019, in Charge Number: E/162C/19, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA VS. ANIDIOBI OLIVER CHUWUKA,” the bank explained.
“At the conclusion of the trial, accused person was sentenced to eight years, imprisonment and three properties which he acquired with the proceeds of the crimes ordered to be attached and sold and the proceeds be paid to Ohha Microfinance Bank Ltd.
“It should be noted that when EFCC operatives led, I and our clients’ officials to identify the three properties, it was surprising that EFCC operatives stated that they could not identify one of the properties again, which is an uncompleted four-bedroom bungalow at Centenary City, Enugu.
“Based on our insistence that how could a landed property recovered from a convict developed wings and disappeared into thin air, the Commission thereafter approached the Court which gave an Order that the Controller of Corrections, Enugu State should allow the officials of the EFCC to interview the Convict Anidiobi Oliver Chukwuka, and identify the four bedroom bungalow at the Centenary City Enugu, being one of the properties traced and attached from the convict pursuant to the Judgment of the Honorable Court delivered on the 2nd November 2019.
“The bank is fed up that over five years after the conviction of the fraudster the Commission could not show the property which was an Exhibit tendered and reported to the court to have been seized from the convict.”
The bank expressed regret that it has yet to receive a response from the Commission, pointing out that the actions of the Commission’s officials were not only fraudulent but also a perversion of justice.
It noted that the act aimed to deprive the bank of the court-ordered judgment it had obtained, further emboldening the convict, Oliver Anidiobi, who, as manager of Sterling Bank, defrauded the bank of N219 million.
“This letter is therefore important in compliance with pre-action notice requirement before instituting action against the government and its officials. Be informed also that we intend to take appropriate legal action on behalf of our client as soon as the period of three months expires.
“Take notice that the Proposed Plaintiff is Ohha Microfinance Bank Limited, while Proposed Defendants are: 1) Economic and Financial Crimes Commission 2) Attorney General of the Federation.
“The Proposed Plaintiff will seek these Reliefs in the proposed suit.
“A Declaration that the unlawful dealing with Court Exhibit to wit; the four-bedroom bungalow at the Centenary City Enugu, being one of the properties traced and attached from the convict pursuant to the Judgment in Charge Number: E/162C/19, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA VS. ANIDIOBI OLIVER CHUWUKA, is fraudulent and illegal.
“A Declaration that it is illegal and unlawful for the Commission to be playing pranks and claiming that an immovable item in its custody got missing and disappeared into thin air.
“An Order of the Honorable Court to compel the Commission to immediately identify and sell the four-bedroom bungalow at the Centenary City Enugu, being one of the properties traced and attached from the convict pursuant to the Judgment in Charge Number: E/162C/19, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA VS. ANIDIOBI OLIVER CHUWUKA and hand over the proceeds to Ohha Microfinance Bank.”
SaharaReporters reported on January 22, that the EFCC had launched a manhunt for an officer in charge of exhibit room of the Kaduna Zonal office, who reportedly stole over $30,000 and other valuable exhibits.
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