Court asks EFCC to take possession of illicit properties, funds traced to Kogi govt

A federal high court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State, has granted an interim order of forfeiture empowering the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to take possession of some properties and illicit funds linked to the Kogi State Government.

The properties, located within and outside Nigeria, are said to have been acquired through illegitimate means and the funds got through illicit activities.

Justice Nicholas Oweibo also directed the EFCC, on Wednesday, to take possession of N400 million recovered from one Aminu Falala pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The commission said the court “granted an interim forfeiture of 14 properties in Lagos, Abuja and the United Arab Emirates linked to the Kogi State Government.”

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“The judge also ordered the preservation of the sum of N400,000,000.00 (Four Hundred Million Naira) recovered from one Aminu Falala, which ‘is reasonably suspected to have been derived from [an] unlawful activity and intended to be used for the acquisition of Plot No. 1224, Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos,” said the EFCC.

“Justice Oweibo granted the order following an ex parte application filed by the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.”

The court also considered forfeiting the properties to the federal government.

“In his ruling on the application, Justice Oweibo granted the application, as prayed and directed the Commission to publish the interim order within 14 days for any interested party to show cause why the forfeiture order should not be made in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria” said the EFCC.

The judge adjourned the case until March 28, 2023. FIJ