EFCC secures final forfeiture of N775 million linked to ex-accountant general
Story from Saleh INUWA, Kano
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the final forfeiture of the sum of N775 million, 3 properties located at No. 8 Ajayi Crowther Street, Asokoro Abuja, and a plot of land at Plot 1960 Cadastral Zone, A05 Maitama District, FCT, Abuja.
Others include a hotel which is under construction with generating set located at Plot 621, Road 37 Gwarimpa FCT, Abuja and a twin 4-bedroom duplex with guard quarters located at Plot 736, 7th Avenue, Gwarimpa, FCT, Abuja.
The money and properties are the product of illicit activities of a former accountant general of the federation, Mr Jonah Otunla and Colonel Bello Fadele, an aide to Former National Security Adviser, Colonel Samuel Dasuki.
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Moving a motion for the final forfeiture of the assets, counsel to EFCC, Christopher Msheilia, informed the Justice D.U Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja that the assets recovered by the commission in the cost of investigating contract fraud in the office of National Security Adviser under Samuel Dasuki, were proceeds of the unlawful activities of Colonel Bello Fadile and Mr Jonah Otunla.
The N775 million was refunded by Otunba Ade Adelakun (Late) during the investigation whilst the landed properties sought to be forfeited are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities received, retained, concealed and converted by the respondents from the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The Commission had on July 20th, 2020 secured an interim forfeiture order of the Court, on August 11th, 2022 in This Day Newspaper, for the respondent to show cause while the money and the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
Justice Okorowo in granting the final forfeiture stated that the court was satisfied with the evidence before it and ordered the final forfeiture of the assets to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
