A
federal judge who earlier granted an order for bank accounts not linked to bank
verification numbers to be frozen has reversed himself.
Nnamdi Dimgba, presiding at the Abuja Division
of the Federal High Court, said he later learnt that his October 17 order created
an “awkward and unfortunate result.”
“Having listened to all counsel on record, and
with the consent of all parties represented, I hereby revise Relief 4 of the
court’s order of October 17, 2017 such that the new Relief 4 shall be: ‘An interim
order of the honourable court stopping all outward payments, operations or
outward transactions (including any bill of exchange) in respect of the
accounts pending the linking of the accounts to a Bank Verification Number,”
Mr. Dimgba said at the resumed hearing on the matter Wednesday.
“In view of the above-agreed compromise
revision of Relief 4, I also hereby revoke and set aside Relief 5 of the
court’s order of October 17, 2017, which provides for: “An interim order of
forfeiture of the monies in the said accounts without BVN to the
Claimants/Applicants being accounts with insufficient Know Your Customer
guidelines contrary to Section 3 of the Money Laundering Act, 2011 and CBN
guidelines the determination of the originating motion on notice,” the judge
added.
The reversal means that those who have not
linked their bank accounts will now be able to do so at their convenient time.
But customers won’t be able to withdraw funds from unlinked accounts, but will
be able to do so immediately they link their account.
This marks a departure from an earlier order
that gave a 14-day period within which unlinked customers must link the account
or forfeit all funds in their accounts.
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