Nasarawa High Court Orders Arrest of Lawyers Seeking to Vacate Post-No-Debit Orders in IGP vs Moniepoint Case
The High Court of Nasarawa State sitting in Keffi has issued a controversial directive in IGP v. Moniepoint Microfinance Bank & 93 Others (Suit No. NSD/KM1/2026), ordering the arrest of any lawyer or individual who attempts to vacate a Post-No-Debit (PND) order without the consent of the relevant authority.
Delivering the ex parte order, Justice A.A. Ozegya instructed the police to apprehend persons—including legal practitioners—who approach banks to lift the restrictions without police approval.
The court also directed the 1st to 34th Respondents, comprising financial institutions, to provide account information and related banking records belonging to the 35th to 94th Respondents and impose restrictions on the affected accounts.
Specifically, the court ordered the banks to provide account opening packages and mandate cards, statements of account covering the period from January 1, 2024, to date, Bank Verification Number (BVN) information linked to the accounts and certificates of compliance pursuant to Section 84 of the Evidence Act 2011.
The banks were further directed to place Post-No-Debit restrictions on the accounts and deactivate all internet and electronic banking facilities linked to them.
In the enrolled order, Justice Ozegya further directed that the PND restrictions should not be lifted unless the affected suspects report to the police.
The court also directed the arrest of persons who present themselves with lifting orders without police permission and specifically included lawyers among those to be apprehended if they seek to secure the lifting of the restrictions without the consent of the relevant authority.
The relevant portion of the enrolled order reads:
“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:
That the 1st-34th Respondents are to permit inspections of Account details of the 35-94th Respondents, Provide Opening Package/Mandate Card, Statement of Accounts from 1st January 2024 till date, Bank Verification Number (BVN) page linked to the accounts, certificate of compliance in accordance with section 84 of Evidence Act 2011, Place Post No Debit (PND) on the accounts, deactivate all internet/electronic bank facilities, The PND shouldn’t be lifted if the suspect has not report to the police and arrest any persons who come with lift order without police permission, Any person or persons either lawyer that comes for lifting without the consent of the authority should be apprehended, arrest account holders upon sight in any transaction……”
The order, which was made ex parte, affects the accounts of the 35th to 94th Respondents, while imposing restrictions on their ability to carry out debit transactions and access electronic banking services.
The directive concerning legal practitioners specifically addresses lawyers who seek to facilitate the lifting of the PND restrictions without the consent of the relevant authority.
The case is before the Nasarawa State High Court in Keffi, presided over by Justice A.A. Ozegya.
