Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, Wednesday granted an interim forfeiture of 14 properties in Lagos, Abuja and the United Arab Emirates linked to the Kogi State Government.
The information which is contained in a statement, also says the Judge in addition, ordered the preservation of the Four Hundred Million Naira recovered from one Aminu Falala, reasonably suspected to have been derived from the unlawful activity, and intended to be used for the acquisition of Plot No.1224 Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island Lagos.
Justice Oweibo granted the order following an ex parte application filed by the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
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The application was supported by an affidavit deposed to by an investigating officer with the EFCC, Adejunbi Mojisola.
Moving the motion for the application on Wednesday, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, said that the properties, including Hotel Apartment Community in Burj Khalifa situated at, Plot 160 Municipality NO 345-7562, Sky View Building No 1, Property No 401, Floor 4, Dubai U.A.E., were reasonably suspected to have been derived from unlawful activity.
In his ruling on the application, Justice Oweibo granted the application as prayed and directed the commission to publish the interim order within 14 days, for any interested party to show cause why the forfeiture order should not be made in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The case has been adjourned till March 28, 2023.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
