BEVERLY HILLS, January 16, (THEWILL) – A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of N2.24 billion recovered from a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, to the Federal Government.
Justice Mojisola Olatoregun gave the order following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on June 7, 2018.
The EFCC had said that the sum was reasonably suspected to be proceeds of an unlawful activity.
The judge also ordered final forfeiture an order for the forfeiture of N190,828,978.15k recovered by EFCC from a former Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo.
Olatoregun further ordered final forfeiture of N101 million recovered from Solomon Enterprises, a company linked to Amosu.
The court had earlier granted an interim order of forfeiture of the sums.
It directed the EFCC to publish the interim order in The Nation and Punch newspapers so that the respondents or anyone interested can show cause as to why the final order of forfeiture should not be made in favour of the Federal Government.
Amosu and an interested party, Air Vice Marshal Bolaji Adigun, had filed counter-application, arguing that the funds were proceeds of their personal businesses and not from illegal activities.
At the resumed hearing today, Olatoregun dismissed the applications, saying that they failed to provide facts to ascertain if the funds were obtained unlawfully.
“Upon examination of the two applications from the first respondent (Amosu) and the interested party, dated July 28, 2018, and asking that the interim orders be set aside, I found nothing to set aside the order.
“The affidavits filed disclosed no reason why the order of final forfeiture should not be made; the applications are hereby dismissed. The only conclusion I can reach is that these funds are proceeds of an unlawful activity.
“I hereby order the final forfeiture of these sums to the Federal Government of Nigeria: N2,244,500,000, N190,828,978.15 and N101 million.
“The funds should be paid into the nominated GTB treasury single account of the Federal Government and an affidavit of compliance filed within 14 days.” Olatoregun ruled.
About the Author
