The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of two different properties and the sum of N 11,040,000.00( Eleven Million, Forty Thousand Naira) belonging to two ex naval officers and their company to the Federal Government.
The first respondent, Capt. Olotu Olumuyiwa Morakinyo served as Maritime Guard Commander in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA) between January and September, 2013 while the second respondent, Capt. Ebony Emmanuel Aneke, served as Maritime Guard Commander in NIMASA between September 2013 and December, 2014.
According to a statement signed by the head, media & Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, Justice Hassan of the court had, on Wednesday, March 28, 2018, ordered the interim forfeiture of the properties, following a motion ex parte filed by the Commission.
In a 38-paragraph affidavit, the EFCC had prayed for an order of the court forfeiting to the Federal Government a three- bedroom terrace duplex at Lekki Gardens Limited Estate , Phase IV, Lekki-Ajah, Lagos recovered by the Commission from the first respondent.
The commission had also prayed for an interim order forfeiting to the Federal Government another five-bedroom duplex at Lekki, Lagos State recovered by the Commission from the second respondent.
“Also, the EFCC had sought an interim order of the court forfeiting to the Federal Government the sum of N11,040,000.00( Eleven Million Forty Thousand Naija) found and recovered by the Commission from the third respondent.
“In his ruling today, the judge had granted all the prayers sought by the applicant. Justice Hassan had further directed the applicant to notify the respondents to appear before the court and show cause within 14 days why the properties should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government”, the statement reads.
Meanwhile, the judge had also directed the publication in any national newspaper of the interim order for the respondents or anyone interested in the properties and the money to show cause within 14 days why they should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
“Consequently, the EFCC had moved a motion on notice for the final Forfeiture of the properties as well as the money , having published the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper, as ordered by the court”, the statement reads.
Reporting: Unclad News Press
UNCLAD NEWS PRESS 