By Deborah Onyofufeke, Abuja
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday adjourned for hearing a suit filed by Ecobank Nigeria Limited against the Federal Government on an alleged amnesty fraud payment.
Ecobank had in its application asked the court to restrain the Federal Government from forcing it to refund N800m arising from loss suffered due to the multiple payments made to beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme.
Recall that the Federal Government had established a Niger Delta Amnesty Programme for the disarmament, demobilisation, and rehabilitation or reintegration of the militants and development in the oil-producing region.
The key component of the programme was the payment of monthly stipends to qualified beneficiaries through their accounts maintained with various banks in Nigeria.
Ecobank had, in an ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/469/2023, sued the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), National Security Adviser (NSA), and the Federal Government through the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme as 1st to 3rd respondents respectively.
At yesterday’s proceeding, although Eric Otojahi, counsel representing Ecobank, and Oben O.O, lawyer to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi were present, the matter which was listed as number 10 on the cause list could not be heard as the presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned hearing in the suit till February 12.
The bank in its motion dated April 5, sought an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents or cohorts from arresting its directors, staff, or agents or taking steps to disrupt its business without following due process of law pending the hearing and determination of originating motion.
It also sought an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents either by themselves or agents from taking further steps “to further harass the applicant, directors, and staff.
On January 19, 2023, the Office of the NSA summoned Ecobank to a meeting with the then NSA, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd), in respect of the Amnesty Programme.
The NSA at the meeting informed the bank’s representatives that some of the beneficiaries of the amnesty scheme have been receiving double payments from the Federal Government by opening multiple accounts in several banks and that the 3rd respondent has also been paying funds to unknown individuals.
Due to this, the Federal Government disclosed that it had lost the sum of N13bn through the leakages.
The government, thereafter, stated emphatically that the sum of N849,408,000 must be refunded by Ecobank within two weeks.
