A Federal High Court sitting in Benin City has granted an interim order for the attachment of property belonging to Jessica Oghomwen Iguodala in connection with Charge No. FHC/B/5C/2024. The order followed an ex-parte motion dated October 26, 2026, filed by the police prosecutor, P. I. Odion, Esq. The motion sought the attachment of Jessica's property at No. 127, Independent Street, off Ighomwenghian Street, off Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City.
The motion was supported by a 12-paragraph affidavit deposed to by the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), two exhibits marked “NPF 1” and “NPF 2”, and a written address. Justice B. O. Quadri, the presiding Judge, said the application was intended to compel her appearance before the court. The court had previously ordered the publication of a public summons compelling Jessica Iguodala Oghomwen to appear before it on or before March 12, 2026.
The public summons was to answer charges bordering on alleged money laundering, operating a financial institution without a licence, and aiding the suicide of Lilian Omokhuale, daughter of Oloton. The order followed an ex-parte motion moved by the prosecutor, P. O. Odion, following an amended charge in the case. The court directed that the public summons be published in two national newspapers and that a copy be pasted on the notice board of the Federal High Court.
Counsel to the defendant, Imagbeghian, Esq., opposed the motion, arguing that the processes were defective under the Administration of Criminal Justice Law. He also submitted that the court had no reason to believe that his client, who is a suspect, had absconded. However, counsel to Omoruyi Oloton, Chief Executive Officer of Uyi Technical Limited and the nominal complainant, described Imagbeghian as a meddlesome interloper.
The prosecutor, Odion, cited Section 41 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2025, which empowers a court to order the publication of a public summons where it has reason to believe that a suspect against whom a warrant of arrest has been issued has absconded or is in hiding. The provision requires such a summons to direct the person concerned to appear at a specified place and time not less than 30 days from the date of publication.
The application was supported by a written address, a nine-paragraph affidavit, and a warrant of arrest earlier issued on November 19, 2024. In the affidavit, the prosecutor averred that Oghomwen had failed to appear before the court to take her plea, prompting the issuance of a warrant of arrest to compel her attendance. He further alleged that the defendant had absconded and was concealing herself to frustrate the execution of the warrant.
Jessica Iguodala, as the only surviving child of her mother, inherited the property in question. The court order for attachment is part of efforts to compel her appearance in court. Key parties involved in the case include the police prosecutor, P. I. Odion, Esq., and counsel to the defendant and the nominal complainant.
Key points
- The Federal High Court in Benin City has ordered the attachment of Jessica Iguodala's property in connection with a money laundering case.
- The court had previously ordered a public summons for Jessica Iguodala to appear in court to answer charges.
- The case involves allegations of money laundering, operating a financial institution without a licence, and aiding suicide.
