June 02, (THEWILL) – The Attorney-General of Federation and Minister of Justice has waded into the dispute between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and businessman/security expert, Otunba Adejare Adegbenro.
THEWILL reports that the anti-graft agency had recently declared Adegbenro wanted following a complaint by Mikano International after the security expert was unable to pay for vehicles purchased from the company due to a post-no-debit instruction on his bank accounts following a dispute with another company.
The AGF in a letter, however has directed the anti-graft agency to take into consideration that the security expert is a victim of a fraud in the UAE, where it is presently helping him recover and repatriate around $2.8 million trapped in Mountain Place Trading Company’s Account with United Arab Bank, Diera, Ďubai, UAE.
Dated 31st May, 2023, the letter signed by A. Öche-Obe, Director, International Cooperation Department, for the AGF, reads: “The Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation is in receipt of the attached letter from one Otunba Adejare Adegbenro dated 16h May 2023, whose case of trapped funds in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was reported here since 2019.
“Recall also that this office earlier wrote to your office to take into account his situation as a victim of fraud in your investigation, to enable him recover the trapped funds to meet his obligation to his financiers.
“In this regard the applicant has requested this office for intervention to allow him more time to resolve the matter with the authorities to enable him meet up his financial obligations.
“Accept the assurances of the warm regards of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.”
THEWIL further recalls that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, had in a letter to the EFCC dated February 26, 2019, confirmed that the office alongside Interpol as well as the “Central Authority of the United Arab Emirates are working towards the release of the said funds to the Managing Director so as to enable him purchase the intended vehicles.”
