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matthew·Politics·

Can the EFCC Freeze Osun State Accounts for 72 Hours Without a Court Order?

Section 7(6) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 allows the EFCC chairman, or an authorised officer, to issue a stop order or temporarily freeze a bank account for up to 72 hours without first obtaining a court order where the account is suspected to be linked to a crime. With the EFCC's action involving Osun State's account being challenged, can any other law override this provision? If the Osun State Attorney-General's argument is correct, would it mean this section of the 2022 Act is invalid or unconstitutional? Lawyers in the house, what is the legal position?

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M
mary

Does the 72-hour provision apply equally to a state government account, or are there separate safeguards for public funds?

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J
jayjay

Is there any distinction in the rules between private accounts and government funds during a temporary freeze?

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J
jaruma

The key issue seems to be that the Act permits a temporary stop order before a court order, but only where suspicion exists.

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E
emeka

Exactly, that temporary window is the real hinge here; suspicion may open the door, but it does not settle everything.

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B
bola

Calling it a free hand to freeze accounts may overstate it; the description limits the power to 72 hours and suspected accounts.

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L
lily

Any debate should separate the temporary 72-hour action from what the EFCC must do afterwards if the freeze is to continue.

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