The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday fixed June 11
to deliver judgment in a suit by the Federal Government seeking an
order of forfeiture of funds in accounts with Bank Verification
Numbers.
At the hearing of the suit on Friday, the Federal Government
accused commercial banks of shielding owners of accounts the
accounts without BVN.
The Federal Government alleged that the banks’ opposition to the
suit implied the banks’ failure to enforce the BVN policy.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, representing the Federal
Government, through a lawyer, Mr. Ade Okeaya-Inneh (SAN), also
challenged the right of the banks to be heard in the case.
He said, “Our contention is that the banks do not have the locus
(legal right) to defend this action (suit).
“Our contention is that the plaintiff has a public duty to
ensure that a regulation made pursuant to a law by the Federal
Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria is obeyed.”
He added, “If the defendants say they did not know those who
know the money in the accounts without BVN, how can they then come
to defend the case?
“What locus do they have if they did not disclose the owners of
the money despite the order of the court to that effect? If they
are to be heard, on whose behalf?
“They (the lawyers representing the respondents) are defending
the suit on behalf of the bank, but the action and the order of the
court is not against the banks per se, it is against the supposed
owners of the funds.
“The court’s order was for them to verify the owners of the
accounts.
“They have not done that and did not disclose any body as the
owners of the accounts.
“So, we are arguing that they cannot act for unknown persons,
whose identities they have not disclosed. If they do not know who
their customers are, then they cannot defend the suit.”
He asked the court to reject all the processes filed by the
defendants in the case.
Another member of the Federal Government’s legal team, James
Igwe (SAN), who argued the substantive suit, urged the court to
grant the plaintiff’s prayers in the main suit.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday fixed June 11
to deliver judgment in a suit by the Federal Government seeking an
order of forfeiture of funds in accounts with Bank Verification
Numbers.
At the hearing of the suit on Friday, the Federal Government
accused commercial banks of shielding owners of accounts the
accounts without BVN.
The Federal Government alleged that the banks’ opposition to the
suit implied the banks’ failure to enforce the BVN policy.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, representing the Federal
Government, through a lawyer, Mr. Ade Okeaya-Inneh (SAN), also
challenged the right of the banks to be heard in the case.
He said, “Our contention is that the banks do not have the locus
(legal right) to defend this action (suit).
“Our contention is that the plaintiff has a public duty to
ensure that a regulation made pursuant to a law by the Federal
Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria is obeyed.”
He added, “If the defendants say they did not know those who
know the money in the accounts without BVN, how can they then come
to defend the case?
“What locus do they have if they did not disclose the owners of
the money despite the order of the court to that effect? If they
are to be heard, on whose behalf?
“They (the lawyers representing the respondents) are defending
the suit on behalf of the bank, but the action and the order of the
court is not against the banks per se, it is against the supposed
owners of the funds.
“The court’s order was for them to verify the owners of the
accounts.
“They have not done that and did not disclose any body as the
owners of the accounts.
“So, we are arguing that they cannot act for unknown persons,
whose identities they have not disclosed. If they do not know who
their customers are, then they cannot defend the suit.”
He asked the court to reject all the processes filed by the
defendants in the case.
Another member of the Federal Government’s legal team, James
Igwe (SAN), who argued the substantive suit, urged the court to
grant the plaintiff’s prayers in the main suit.