Law group seeks to join suit on forfeiture of bank accounts

A group, the Incorporated Trustees of Total Support for Rule of Law and Justice Initiative, has asked to be joined as defendant in the suit for the forfeiture of bank accounts without Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) before a Federal High Court in Abuja for the forfeiture.

The suit was filed by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) against 19 commercial banks in the country.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba had issued an interim forfeiture order of account balances in the banks if they failed to show cause why they should not be forfeited within 14 days.

The suit by its coordinator, Chukwudi Igwe, is seeking to defend the interest of some Nigerians who may have not obtained their BVN based on some prevailing reasons beyond their control.

The group told the court that if the permanent forfeiture order is allowed, it may affect accounts previously owned by deceased persons who may not be able to appear in court to show cause why the proceeds in the accounts would not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

Other persons that may be affected by the order, according to the group, are those who may not have the finances to appear before the court for purpose of showing cause why the proceeds in the account would not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

“The other persons who may be serving prison terms in Nigeria and outside Nigeria on charges not bordering on financial crimes, those lying down in hospital beds, those mentally ill, Nigerians living abroad, those in coma and many others might not have the chance to be in court,” the group said.