Court Orders EFCC To Seize Properties Belonging To Kogi State government officials in Nigeria and Dubai.
In a bide to curb crime and foster transparency and accountability in the government, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel has been ordered by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to seize 14 properties belonging to Kogi State government officials in Abuja, Lagos, and the United Arab Emirates allegedly connected to fraud and public funds embezzlement.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo in the sitting gave the order to EFCC following a case filed by the exparte dated February 17th, 2023, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, a senior advocate of Nigeria. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been ordered by Justice Oweibo to confiscate N400 million from one of Mr. Aminu Falala’s alleged frauds.
The Commission had earlier written an application to carry out investigations on some of the key officials of the Kogi State government engaging in fraud. According to Oyedepo, through investigations, the Commission has been able to discover that Kogi State government officials have embezzled public funds for their personal use and purchased new properties and even renovated old structures they purchased in Nigeria and in Dubai.
Through the suit labeled FHac/L/CS/301/2023, some properties such as the one situated at the World’s tallest building Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Also, a property located at No 9, Benghazi street, Abuja was renovated with N310, 443,450,00 alleged from the Kogi State government fund.
Meanwhile, through investigations, the N400 million recovered by EFCC was alleged to be used for the purchase of plot No.1224 at Bishop Oluwole street in Victoria Island, Lagos State. The Court has directed the EFCC within 14 days to publish the given order in a national daily so that interested persons can be aware while the forfeiture lasts.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission filed the case in accordance with the 1999 Nigerian Constitution on Recovery and Management Act, 2022 of section 44 (2) B.
In the ex -parte motion, Oyedepo supported the application with a legal affidavit from Adekunbi Mojibola an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission officer who is among the investigative team.
The EFCC officer alleged that through registers, about N7, 900,000,000 (billion) was withdrawn from the Kogi State government account by Abdulsalam Hudu and the transaction was concealed by Murtala Maigari and associates.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Control marked and attached the exhibits EFCC 6a, EFCC 6b, and EFCC 6c, as well as EFCC 6d. The following are the properties ordered to be seized by the EFCC; Plot A 02/176 Block 488B, situated at Lome Street, Wuse 1, Abuja;
Plus International Limited which is located at No. 2 Kubwa Resettlement Area Cadastral Zone E1, Abuja; Plot No. 1160, located at Cadastral Zone CO3, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja; Plus International Limited, located at No 41 Ikorodu Road, Jibowu, Mushin, Lagos State;
No.2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro Abuja; Block ‘D’, Street, Wuse Zone 4 in the Federal capital territory, Abuja. No B13 Citiscape-Shariff Plaza, close to plot 739 Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2 Abuja. Fair Plus International Limited at No. 2 Bisi Odunsanya Street, Agege Motor Road, Agege Lagos State;
No. 1773 Guzape District, Abuja; View Building No 1, Property No 401, Floor 4, Dubai U.A.E. The UAE property Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Plot 160 Municipality located at NO. 345-7562.
Other property ordered to be confiscated includes; No. 2934A, Cadastral Zone is popularly known as, No. 1 Ikogosi Spring Close, at Maitama District in the Federal capital territory, Abuja;
Also, N400 million was allegedly recovered by EFCC from one Mr. Falala at No 1, Floor 4, Dubai U.A.E.
Plot No. 1058, measuring 1450.77sqm at Cadastral Zone AO8, Wuse 2, popularly known as No. 2 Durban Street, at Abuja;
As well as No. 1981, Maitama District, popularly known as No. 6 Dala Hills, Abuja Oyedepo stated that in the course of the investigation, the Commission invited Nura Musa, Rabiu Tafada, and Mubarak Yusuf who honored the Commission and were sincere enough to make an extra-judicial statement.
