Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin
Kwara state High Court sitting in Ilorin, the state capital has ordered the forfeiture of a building of ex-executive director of Harmony Holdings Limited, an agency of the state government.
Ilorin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had approached the court asking it to confiscate the landed property, arguing that it was acquired through alleged fraudulent means.
In an affidavit deposed to by an Investigative Officer with the EFCC, Denis Nnachi said “investigations revealed that the Ex-Kwara executive director (respondent) used fraudulently sold five plots of land belonging to the Kwara State Government in Galadimawa area of Abuja and used it to construct the building in question ”
“The respondent used his position as executive director of Harmony Holdings Limited to influence the award of contracts to several companies where he had interest.
“It was also discovered that the property known as 11, Catchment Road, GRA, Ilorin was constructed and developed using proceeds of unlawful activity.”
At Wednesday sitting, EFCC counsel Sesan Ola moved a motion praying the court to forfeit the said property to the Federal Government.
While moving the application, Ola said “we have a motion dated 14th day of January 2020. It was brought pursuant to section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No 14, 2006, section 44v (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the inherent jurisdiction of this honourable court ”
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“Our motion is praying this court for an order forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the landed property with appurtenances situated at 11,Catchment Road, GRA, Ilorin, Kwara state found and recovered by the commission from the respondent which is believed to have been acquired through the proceeds of unlawful activity ” Ola said.
The EFCC lawyer urged the court to look at the merit of application and all the exhibits attached in granting the request.
Presiding Judge, Justice Sikiru Oyinloye granted the application filed by EFCC after the respondent failed to show up in court to challenge the legality or otherwise of the proceedings.
Justice Oyinloye said “I have seen the hearing notice duly served on the defendant, it is clear evidence before me that the respondent was duly served with the hearing notice of this proceedings, the respondent did not file any paper to challenge the legality of this
proceedings or claim ownership of the property in question ”
“I accept, believe and rely on all the thirty five paragraphs affidavit filed by the applicant, though the application was not challenged but I consider it meritorious. The property is hereby
forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
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