A court order was issued against Haril Global Solutions Ltd, Abdullahi Abubakar Sadiq, Onobun Oluwaseun Olumide, and Oluwaseun Adeniyi Afolabi, following a request from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This development, detailed in an originating summons dated January 12, 2024, along with internal memos and intelligence reports, was obtained by Nairametrics.
EFCC counsel Olanrewaju Adeola requested the court to freeze the mentioned accounts, halt all outward payments, and suspend operations or transactions (including bills of exchange) on these accounts, as outlined in suit NO/FHC/CS/32/2024.
Preliminary Alarm
Prior to the EFCC’s intervention, Globus Bank management raised concerns in 2023 about their systems being compromised. They pointed fingers at several former ICT department staff members. Documents reviewed by Nairametrics reveal that the bank sought court orders in Lagos to freeze various bank accounts linked to the suspected individuals.
EFCC’s Case Against the Suspects
In an affidavit submitted by EFCC Litigation Clerk Samson Oloje, the commission detailed receiving an intelligence report implicating former Globus Bank employees in hacking the bank’s systems and stealing N3,500,000.00 from customer accounts. Globus Bank was subsequently called in, and Monday Edward, Head of Internal Audit/Chief Inspector of the Bank, provided a statement confirming the breach.
Evidence indicated that funds had indeed been diverted. EFCC officials informed the court that Globus Bank had already sought a Post No Debit (PND) order from the Federal High Court, Lagos to freeze the implicated accounts and prevent further depletion of funds.
Additionally, the EFCC stated that forensic analysis of computers and a phone belonging to Igwe George Benedict Obinna was underway to determine the involvement of Babatunde Idris, Olayiwola Chinedu Ihuma, and Igwe George Benedict Obinna in the fraudulent activities.
The EFCC arrested and interviewed the prime suspect, Igwe George Benedict Obinna, who admitted to his role in the fraud. The commission urged the court to grant the freeze order to avoid hindering the ongoing investigation.
On January 23, 2024, Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the freeze order on the disputed accounts and adjourned the case pending the final investigation report from the EFCC.
Further Details
Court documents reveal that on December 21, 2023, Globus Bank obtained a Federal High Court Lagos order to freeze accounts linked to the suspects. According to EFCC intelligence, two principal suspects, Idris Olayiwola and Chinedu, are believed to be in the United Kingdom.
Nairametrics also learned that the suspects being investigated by the EFCC have filed a lawsuit against the Commission and Globus Bank at the High Court of Justice in Maitama FCT Abuja, under suit no: CV/1841/24, seeking to overturn the legal actions taken by the bank and the EFCC.