Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of $16.5 million and N127 million fraudulently diverted from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to the Federal Government.
Justice Ogundare gave the judgment yesterday while granting an application for such orders filed and moved by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lawyer, Sulaiman I. Sulaiman.
The monies, according to the EFCC, were proceeds of unlawful activities.
Justice Ogundare, on May 23, ordered the interim forfeiture of the monies, while granting an Exparte motion brought before the court pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14. 2006; and Section 44 (2)(B) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
The court, after forfeiting the monies in the interim on May 23, directed the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper, to show cause why the monies should not be finally forfeited.
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At the resumed hearing yesterday, Suleiman told the court that pursuant publication of the order was made on June 6.
“The said application is supported by 22 paragraphs deposed to by Oghare Ogbole, an investigator with the EFCC. The application is accompanied with two exhibits, the Interim order of the court and Punch publication of June 26, 2024, and it is also supported with a written address.
“We most respectively adopt same and urge the court to grant the relief sought.”
Justice Ogundare, after listening to the EFCC lawyer, held that ‘order granted as prayed’.