By Chimezie Godfrey
A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a fresh suit challenging the authority of the ICPC to issue Post-No-Debit (PND) orders, describing the case as an abuse of judicial process.
Justice Emeka Nwite struck out the suit filed by James Erebuoye, Emon Aje Okune, and Dorason Global Construction Ltd., ruling that the matter had already been decided by a competent court.
The case sought to contest the PND directives previously upheld by Hon. Justice Babangida Hassan of the FCT High Court on 16 February 2021, where the court affirmed ICPC’s power under Section 45(1) of the ICPC Act to impose PND restrictions without prior court approval.
Despite appealing that ruling, the plaintiffs filed a new suit at the Federal High Court seeking similar reliefs, including ₦95,287,200 in damages.
Justice Nwite held that the plaintiffs improperly invited the Federal High Court to sit in appeal over a decision of a court of coordinate jurisdiction. The court awarded ₦600,000 costs in favour of ICPC, Polaris Bank, and Sterling Bank.
The judgment reinforces ICPC’s statutory powers and discourages forum shopping.
Court Upholds ICPC’s Power to Freeze Accounts, Dismisses Fresh Suit as Abuse of Process
