… strange number, name used to receive alerts
The revelation on the scam of worms on the Stamp Duty started in January 2021 when some whistle blowers through diligent investigation unveiled series of accounts numbering 29 and situated in 17 banks in the country allegedly being used to loot and hide funds amounting to over 70 trillion Naira.
This was as it was also learnt that 17 other commercial banks, persons and corporate organisations may be equally linked to the damning scandal.
Some Court papers sighted by Forefront News showed that Zenith Bank remains the major beneficiary of what is turning out to be the biggest financial scam ever since the enthronement of democracy in 1999.
Following diligent investigation to determine the culpability or otherwise of some key actors and the volume of money allegedly stolen, several banks and accounts were monitored by security agencies.
As a result of the investigations, one of the accounts with the name Okam Eze Zenna drew special interest of the investigators as they discovered that the phone number on the account name used to receive alerts as part of the Banking procedures were routed to the phone number of one Okoro Comfort, who was the person receiving the alerts up till this year, 2022.
Similarly, the investigators found it worrisome that a Bank Verification Number (BVN) attached to the account domiciled in the Zenith Bank had five different BVN numbers namely; 22173355534, 22376914983, 22193440291, 22367697055, 22235680190.
When drilled by the investigators, according to Court documents, Comfort Okoro denied any knowledge of such accounts, saying that the information was strange to her.
The investigators were particularly puzzled that Zenith Bank could allow multiple BVN on one account which is contrary to the provision of the law and against the spirit and letter of banking rules in approved by Financial regulators in the country.
In keeping with rules in accordance with the provisions of the law, the services of a law firm, Ndarani SAN & Co. Solace Law Chambers was enlisted and armed with the required and needed information, Lawyers approached the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), and Minister of Justice for a mandate to go proceed with the investigation which was granted.
However, the approval to go ahead with the investigation had a proviso; “to report back to the office of the AGF monthly/periodically on progress made as contained in the mandate letter.
Following the approval by the office of the AGF for the probe and with the conviction that these suspicious accounts were likely operated by some individuals in some of the Federal Government Agencies, Ministries and Institutions of Public Policy, the investigator extended his tentacles to other offices to wit; the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning and the Accountant General of the Federation, for a mandate to proceed as a matter of emergency to recover the suspected slush funds for the collective well-being of Nigerians and Nigeria.
Armed with the required mandate, Solicitor Ndarani & Co proceeded further with the probe which culminated with a suit with no: FHC/L/CS/968/2021, was filed in August 2021, at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, presided over by Justice Peter Odo Lifu against 17 banks namely Zenith Bank Plc, Polaris Bank Plc, Citi Bank Ltd, Stanbic Ibtc Bank Plc, Standard Chartered Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc, Unity Bank Plc, Keystone Bank Plc, Heritage Bank Plc, First Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Eco Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc and Access Bank Plc, by the AGF office, directing the 17 Defendant Banks to file an Affidavit of disclosure before the court within 72 hours deposed to by the Chief Compliance officer of each defendant bank on the following account numbers;1012280444, 1012280441, 1012280442, 1012280443,1012280445, 0310000215, 0023293870, 2065764772, 3002365490, 3002385500, 3002001167, 3002001174, 3002001150, 1018980553, 2005942905, 1750027157, 2006367288, 0562014829, 2023346558, 0010213668, 2087399132, 1210538828, 1210527113, 0122891205, 0230718662, 0074582449, 5742004252, 0281556229, 0022974884; and to make such available to the Agent Law firm of Ndarani & Co.
The suit however, suffered several adjournments with some of the actors growing cold feet, while some of the suspected public institutions, banks and public officials moved decisively to frustrate the case using some Coalition organisations.
In the meantime, Justice Lifu has adjourned the case marked No: FHC/L/Cs/968/2021 till March 6, 2023.
The trial judge had on the March 7, 2022, adjourned the case to March 31, 2022 for ruling before the last adjournment date till March 2023.
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