Court to EFCC: don’t interfere in BCL, GTB case

A Lagos High Court has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) not to further interfere in a dispute between Guarantee Trust Bank and Boot Communications Ltd, operators of Rockcity FM over a commercial transaction.

Justice Taofiquat Oyekan-Abdullahi made the order following a complaint by Boot Communications’ counsel Benjamin Umudjoro.

He alleged that EFCC, allegedly prompted by GTBank, summoned BCL officials to the commission’s Lagos zonal office over the disputed loan deal.

The judge ordered EFCC to halt further action on the petition by GTBank until the case is determined.

She ordered that N20 million or any other outstanding sum owed be paid through bank cheques.

The judge also directed BCL and the bank to agree on terms of settlements, negotiate the issue of interest, and report to her on the next adjournment date of November 29.

Umudjoro condemned EFCC over its alleged unlawful interference in the loan dispute.

He said the commission invited his client over a petition filed by GTBank alleging stealing, diversion and obtaining money under false pretences without evidence.

In a letter to EFCC’s Head of Operation in Lagos, Umudjoro accused GTBank of flagrantly disregarding the ongoing court process by petitioning the commission.

He said it was in a bid to intimidate his client, thereby frustrating the claims before the court.

Umudjoro said the invitation and interrogation of his client in a case pending before a court amounted to a violation of the act establishing it.

According to him, loan transactions and contracts were outside EFCC’s powers.

To him, EFCC’s intervention in a civil transaction pending before a court was an attempt to subvert the judicial process.a

The lawyer said Supreme Court had condemned attempts by banks and others to make EFCC and other security agencies debt recovery agents, especially where evidence of fraud could not be provided by petitioners.

BCL employees, the lawyer added, reported that despite of the court order, EFCC officials were still calling them on phone, intimidating, harrassing and threatening them with arrest, allegedly claiming that the commission was not bound by court orders.

EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren, when contacted, said he was on leave and could not comment on the issue.

“I am not around now. I am on leave,” he said.