Justice Mohammed Jibril of the Upper Area Court of Nasarawa State sitting in Maraba, Gurku, has ordered the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force CID, Area 10, Garki and two banks Managing Directors to appear before it or face committal proceedings.
The affected banks are Standard Chartered Bank Plc and Access Bank Plc.
The order was sequel to an alleged order obtained by the Police from the Magistrate Court in the state to authorise the frozen of an account of a customer in the two banks in Lagos State.
Justice Jibril ordered the defendants to appear before the court over an order sought to be vacated and to explain who executed the order.
The court had earlier granted an order to the Police in two different suits delineated UAC/KAR/ 20/2023 and UAC/KAR/21/2023 it filed against the Access Bank Plc and Osareme Vera Archibong in first and second respondents respectively.
While in the second suit, the police had gotten an order or the court against the bank and the Manager Standard Chartered Bank Plc and Osareme Vera Archibong as respondents/applicant in the suit.
However, following an order obtained by the Police, the second respondent/applicant (Archibong) in the suits through her counsel, Mr. Emeka Ozoani (SAN) approached the court to vacate the order.
After his arguments and submission before the court, the judge ordered the applicant (the DIGP) to appear before the court, noted that he found it difficult to be set aside.
In his ruling, the court said he has listened to the learned silk, Emeka Ozoani, (SAN) and Grace Agbal, for the 2nd respondent/applicant, and have the cause to peruse through the Criminal and Civil Complaint books and the record of this Court but found it extremely difficult to lay hus hands on this order that sought to be set aside.
“I shall order the applicant/respondent in the order sought to be vacated who is the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force CID, Area 10, Garki Abuja, the first respondent; Standard Chartered Bank Plc and the Manager, Standard Chartered Bank Plc who executed the order to produce before me the order sought to be vacated and I so hold”.
The court further directed that he will issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the DIGP, Force CID, Area 10, Garki Abuja to compel his appearance.
“I shall in furtherance to this issue bench warrant for the arrest of the Manager, Standard Chartered Bank Plc to compel his appearance before me and I so hold.”
The judge subsequently adjourned the hearing of the case to March 14, 2023.
