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Lagos ministry director forfeits N28.5 million, property to FG

By Joseph Onyekwere
08 December 2017   |   4:13 am
A Federal High Court, Lagos, has ordered that the N28.5 million found in the account of a Director of Account, Lagos State Ministry of Public Works Corporation...

A Federal High Court, Lagos, has ordered that the N28.5 million found in the account of a Director of Account, Lagos State Ministry of Public Works Corporation, Anifowoshe Alade, be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government, being proceeds of unlawful activities.

Justice Mohammed Idris made the order yesterday while granting an ex-parte application filed before the court by Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo and argued by Muhammad Idris, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Apart from the said N28.5 million, Justice Idris also ordered that buildings allegedly belonging to the director be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government.

The buildings are six flats of three bedroom, six flats of two bedroom and six flats of one bedroom, all located at Adewale Osiyeku Street, Igbogbo-Ikorodu, Lagos, as well as four flats of three bedroom duplex, located at 6, Tunde Gabby Close, Dopemu, Lagos.

The court also ordered interim forfeiture of a semi-detached three bedroom flat and one unit of three bedroom terrace at Cranbel Court, Citiview Estate Arepo, Ogun State, as well as 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.

The judge, however, ordered the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper notifying the respondent in whose possession the property sought to be forfeited are found and recovered to appear before the court and show cause within 14 days why the property should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The EFCC in an affidavit deposed to by one of its investigators, Zayyanu Halliru, stated that the respondent is also a custodian initiator, first authoriser and final authoriser of the Internet banking system of Public Works Corporation, Lagos State.

He averred that the respondent, while as director of finance, incorporated a company called Maj Anny International Limited, which he is one of the directors of the company and sole signatory to the company’s account and used his position to divert public funds meant for the Corporation.

The matter has been adjourned till January 16, 2018 for hearing.

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