N28.5Million Fraud: Court to Rule on Lagos Finance Director on January 31

Ladipo Sanusi/

A Federal High Court is set to decide the fate of N28.5million loot and some houses linked to a Director of Finance in Lagos.

Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed January 31, either to finally forfeit the money and houses to the Federal Government of Nigeria or return it to the Director of Finance.

The judge fixed the date, after listening to all parties in the matter.

Justice Aikawa had on December 7, 2017, ordered that the money found in the account of a Director of Account, Lagos State Ministry of Public Works Corporation, Anifowoshe Muhammed Jamiu Alade, be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government for being proceeds of unlawful activities.

He made the order while granting an Ex-parte application filed before the court by the lawyers to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, and argued by Muhammad Idris, against the Director.

Apart from the said sum, the judge also ordered that six 3-bedroom flats, another six flats of two bedrooms, and six 1-bedroom flats, located at Adewale Osiyeku Street, Offin-Ile Igbogbo-Ikorodu, Lagos, and four flats of 3-bedroom duplex at 6, Tunde Gabby Close, Dopemu Area, Pako Bus Stop Agege, Lagos, belonging to the Director, be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government.

The Court also ordered interim forfeiture of a semi-detached 3-bedroom flat, and one unit of 3-bedroom terrace building at Cranbel Court, Citiview Estate Arepo, Ogun State, and a plot of land situated at Queen’s Garden Estate off Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, to the Federal Government of Nigeria, for also being proceeds of unlawful activities.

After granting the request, the Judge ordered the EFCC to publish the order granted in a National newspaper notifying the respondent in whose possession the properties sought to be forfeited are found and recovered to appear before the Court and show cause within 14 days why the properties should not be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.