BEVERLY HILLS, March 10, (THEWILL) – The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the temporary forfeiture of N3.5 billion and $67,586.27 in the accounts of former Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Managing Director, Ibrahim Abdulsalam and other officers.
Justice Oluremi Oguntoyibo made the interim forfeiture order based on an ex-parte originating summons filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a 21- count charge of N2.8billion fraud against Abdulsalam and other officers.
The other affected officers are – former NAMA General Manager, Procurement, Olumuyiwa Adegorite; former General Manager, Finance, Segun Agbolade; and, former acting General Manager, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Bolaniran Akinribido.
The rest are – Director of Finance, Clara Aliche; Adegorite’s wife and co-Director of Multeng Travels and Tours Limited, Joy; Abiodun Sessebor; Randville Investment Limited; Multeng Travels and Tours; Delosa Limited; Airsea Delivery Limited; and, Sea Schedule Systems Limited.
Although they pleaded not guilty to the charge, Justice Oguntoyibo ruled that the defendants temporarily forfeit a residential building at 5, Sobo Arobiodu Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos; a petrol station at Egbeda-Idimu Road, by Faith Bus Stop; a filling station at Idi-Oro, Mushin; and, a petrol station at Alakuko, the ownership of which EFCC said was yet to be determined.
Among sums forfeited are N30,08million in Adegorite’s Stanbic IBTC account with no. 9302194973; N8.7million and N120million in Randville Investment’s Stabic IBTC account (0001427188) and Unity Bank account (0025152223); and $42,386.27 in Adegorite’s First City Monument Bank (FCMB) account (numbered 1546629019).
Others are N2.8million in Delosa’s GTBank account; N1.2billion in Avesta Venture’s Electronics Nigeria Limited’s Zenith Bank account; N985.6million, N281million, N681million and N47million in different Zenith Bank accounts of Merry Aviation Communication Electrical, among others.
The anti-graft commission had applied for an order that the bank accounts of the 12 persons and companies “currently being prosecuted for offences of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence be temporarily attached and taken over by EFCC” until trial is concluded.
It also prayed for an order that all dealings and transactions on the bank accounts be suspended pending the conclusion of prosecution of the alleged offences against them.
