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The Federal High Court, Benin City, Edo State, has granted an interim order for the seizure of property belonging to a suspect, Jessica Oghomwen Iguodala, over her alleged failure to appear before court to answer charges bordering on money laundering and other offences.
The property, located at no. 127, Independent Street, off Ighomwenghian Street, off Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City, is the subject of an ex parte motion filed by the Police Prosecutor, PI Odion, Esq., on 26 October 2026, on charge No. FHC/B/5C/2024.
The request was supported by a 12-paragraph affidavit filed by the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), two documents marked NPF 1 and NPF 2 and a written address.
Justice BO Quadri, ruling on the appeal, said that the appeal was aimed at compelling the accused to appear before the judge.
Iguodala’s attorney, Imagbeghian, Esq., had opposed the request, arguing that the prosecution’s dismissed cases were defective under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
He further argued that there was insufficient basis for the court to conclude that his client, who is a suspect, had absconded.
In response, the prosecutor told the court that Iguodala, as her mother’s only surviving child, had inherited the property she wanted foreclosed on.
Counsel for Omoruyi Oloton, Managing Director of Uyi Technical Limited and the nominal complainant, Douglas Ogbankua, Esq., together with SU Obazee, Osamede Enababor, AJ Onwunaje and OT Okeke, objected to the appearance of Imagbeghian on behalf of the accused.
Ogbankua described the lawyer as an intrusive interloper, arguing that there was no correspondence before the court to establish that he had been formally engaged as Iguodala’s lawyer.
He further accused Imagbeghian of encouraging the defendant to evade justice and described his appearance on his behalf as contempt of court.
The latest development follows an earlier court order directing the issuance of a public summons requiring Iguodala to appear before it by March 12, 2026, to answer charges bordering on alleged money laundering, operating an unlicensed financial institution and abetting the suicide of Lilian Omokhuale, daughter of Oloton.
