Justice
Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, January
16, 2018 ordered a temporary forfeiture of N6,584,785,000; $222,000 and Aso
Savings Limited shares valued at N2,028,800,000 believed to be proceeds
of the sale by Power Holdings Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to the Federal
Government.
The judge
gave the order while ruling on an ex-parte motion by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC.
He also
ordered an interim forfeiture of 12 houses and plots of land located in Lagos,
Ibadan and Abuja believed to be corruptly acquired.
The EFCC
alleged that the forfeited property is part of assets allegedly acquired by
some former aides to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
They are Brigadier
General Arogbofa (retd), Chief of Staff; Jonah Otunla, former Accountant-General
of the Federation and Godknows Igali, former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of
Power,
Others are
– Robert Azibaola (Jonathan’s cousin); Benjamin Dikki, former
Director-General of Bureau for Public Enterprises and Mohammed Wakil, a former
Minister of State for Power.
They are
accused of diverting N27, 188,232,208.20 proceeds of the defunct Power Holding
Company of Nigeria, PHCN, Severance Insurance Premium.
The
seized assets were discovered during “investigations into PHCN Severance
Insurance Premium.”
The judge
granted the motion in chambers on Tuesday after it was moved by EFCC’s lawyer,
Ben Ikani.
In his
ruling, Justice Dimgba directed the EFCC to publish the orders in any national
daily within 14 days, following which any persons or organisations interested
in the assets would be entitled to challenge the court orders.
He,
thereafter, adjourned to February 6 for further hearing.
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