The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has won interim forfeiture of 14 properties, in Abuja, Lagos, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) linked to the Kogi State Government.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos gave the order, following an ex parte motion filed and argued by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, in suit FHC/L/CS/301/2023.
The anti-graft agency told the court that the they had reasonable grounds to suspect that the properties, comprising the one in the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE, were proceeds from unlawful activity.
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Ruling on the request, Justice Oweibo also permitted the EFCC to seize the sum of N400 million also linked to the state, which was recovered from one Aminu Falala.
The EFCC counsel had averred that the N400 million was reasonably suspected to have been derived from unlawful activity “and intended to be used for the acquisition of Plot No. 1224 Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.”
Furthermore, the judge directed the EFCC to publish the order within 14 days for any interested party to show cause why the forfeiture order should not be made permanent.
