Court orders final forfeiture of N335m, hospital, five filling stations, others to FG

The Federal Government has secured a significant victory as a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the permanent forfeiture of various unclaimed assets, including N335 million, a hospital, and five filling stations.

Justice Emeka Nwite issued the final forfeiture order after Mrs. Fadila Yusuf, counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), presented a motion requesting the transfer of ownership of the properties listed in Schedules I and II to the Federal Government.

Yusuf confirmed that the EFCC had fully complied with the court’s requirements.

In his ruling, Justice Nwite determined that the EFCC’s application was well-founded and subsequently granted the order.

“I have listened to the submission of the applicant’s counsel and reviewed the affidavits in support of the motion. I am of the view that this application is meritorious. Consequently, the application is granted as prayed,” he said.

Persecondnews reports that the anti-graft agency had filed a motion on notice marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1058/2024, brought pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act 2006.

In an affidavit supporting the motion, deposed by Tahiru Ahmed, an EFCC official, the commission said the forfeiture application was within the court’s inherent jurisdiction.

The official stated that on Aug. 13, 2024, the court made an order for interim forfeiture of the property listed in the schedules to the application.

The court had ordered the commission to publish the assets in any national daily and on its website, inviting all persons or bodies who might have an interest in the said property to show cause why they should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government.

“The said orders of the court were complied with, and the publication was made in Punch newspapers on Sept. 4, 2024,” he stated.

Ahmed said that since the publication of the interim forfeiture order, nobody had come forward to express an interest in the property.

He said it would be in the interests of justice to grant the final forfeiture application, “as no person will be prejudiced in any way.”

The affected assets, which were alleged to be proceeds of unlawful activities, include: EFCC (Schedule 1)
1. Duplex (No. Bo/12340, Maiduguri, Borno).

2. Residential apartments (Plot No. 12, Equilibrium Estate; No. 7, Cadastral Zone DO2, Karsana District, Abuja; Plot No. 12 of 820.99 square meters).

3. Plot of land (Plot No. 3, Dakibiyu District, Cadastral Zone B10, Abuja, FCT).

4. Plot of land (Plot No. 136 on 600sqm, B TP/177, Ibrahim Taiwo Estate, Maiduguri, Borno).

5. Plot of land (Plot No. NS 11416, measuring 100x50sqm, Ado Karu LGA, Nasarawa).

6. Farmland (50 hectares, Plot No. FL-867, Gaube Farmland Ext 11 Layout).

7. 4.8 hectares of land (Plot measuring about 4.8 hectares along Mal Oke Primary School, Dakwa Town area, Tafa LGA, Niger).

8. Plots of land (Plot No. NE/2111, No. 10/12 Mungono Street, Wulari, Maiduguri, Borno; consisting of 1,749.17sqm marked with beacons B.4605, B.4604, B.6532, and B.6531).

9. Plots of land (Plot Nos. YB/9516, PBY/719, PBY/7140, PBY/7141, and PBY/7142).

10. Galaxy Hospital (Plot No. Bo/12340, Bolori Layout, Maiduguri, Borno).

11. Private residence (Plot No. 13426, measuring approximately 155/mz, Mararaba Gurku, Karu LGA).

12. Filling station (Chabbal Village, Borno).

13. Petroleum filling station (Km 33-650m along Kaduna Zaria Express Road, Kaduna State).

14. Petroleum filling station (Mogaramti along Maiduguri Kano Road, Borno).

15. Petroleum filling station (Chabal Village, Konduga Local Government, Borno).

16. Petroleum filling station (99, Sir Kashim Ibrahim Road, Maiduguri, Borno).

17. Four-bedroom terrace duplex (No. 36-04, BuildOptions Apartment Phase 36, Plot 1244, Guzape District, Abuja, FCT).

18. 10 hectares of land (Proposed filling station, Baga-Maimalari Barrack Road, Maiduguri, Borno).

Bank Accounts and Balances Attached for Final Forfeiture (Schedule 2).
1. Galaxy Transportation and Communication Service Ltd (N281,455,454).

2. Galaxy Computing and Electronics Service Ltd (N6,977,195.00).

3. Galaxy Energy Int’l Concept Ltd (N1,240,588).

4. Galaxy Transport & Construct Service (Zero balance).

5. Galaxy Intercontinental Miners Concept Ltd (Zero balance).

6. Galaxy Superstores & Pharmacy (Zero balance).

7. Galaxy Transportation & Construction S. (N43,705,469.55).

8. Abba Babagana Dalori (Zero balance).

9. Galaxy Transportation & Construction (Zero balance).