JUST IN: Court Orders Forfeiture Of N437million Allegedly Linked To Perm Sec

The Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos has issued an order of interim forfeiture of the sum of a huge sum N437,348,181 allegedly linked to a current Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. Clement Illoh Onubuogu.

Justice Abdulaziz Anka granted the order at the instance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which said it reasonably suspected the money to be proceeds of “unlawful activities.”

The court also granted the interim forfeiture of the sum of N129,826,452.00 found by the Commission in possession of various staffs who worked with the permanent Secretary and are believed to have received the said sum as “kickbacks or gratification.”

Also mentioned in the forfeiture order is a building described as “a mansion” situated and located at Ikom Quarters, Issala-Azegba in Delta State and a hotel located at No. 19, Madue Nwafor Street, off Achala Ibuzo Road, Asaba, Delta State.

The EFCC told the court that both buildings belong to the permanent secretary and are also reasonably suspected to be “proceeds of unlawful activity.”

After granting the interim forfeiture order, Justice Anka directed the EFCC to notify the Permanent Secretary, in whose possession the properties were found, to appear before the court and show cause within 14 days why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The court also directed the publication of the interim orders in any national newspaper for anyone who is interested in the cash sums and the properties to appear before the judge to show cause within 14 days why the final order of forfeiture of the properties should not be made in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.