A TOP abuja lawyer has opened up on his involvement in the recovery of about 44 Federal Government property illegally occupied by individuals and organisations.
This followed the reported questioning of an aide to Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami, by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged sale of recovered assets.
Principal Partner at M. E. Sheriff & Co., Mohammed Sheriff, faulted reports linking his firm with alleged fraud involving an aide to Malami, Mrs. Ladidi Mohammed, in relation to sale of assets recovered by Federal Government from looters.
Sheriff said his firm had no dealings with Mrs. Mohammed, who heads Assets Recovery and Management Unit (ARMU), which coordinates sale of recovered property.
He added that his firm was engaged by Malami to assist in the tracing and recovery of the 44 property illegally occupied by individuals and organisations.
Sheriff said his firm was engaged following presentation by a real estate firm, Gerry Ikputu & Partners, to trace and recover the illegally occupied Federal Government property in states.
The lawyer added that his firm secured an order of final forfeiture, granted by Justice Inyang Ekwo of Federal High Court, Abuja, in suit: FHC/ABJ/CS/1372/2021.
Sherriff, who said his firm was yet to be paid for the services since none of the recovered property had been sold, noted that one of the property in Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, was unlawfully occupied for over 10 years after expiration of the lease.
“We did not know there is an Asset Recovery Management Unit. Our involvement was in relation to the tracing and recovery of abandoned Federal Government properties occupied illegally…
“We got instruction … to trace and recover assets … that we would be entitled to three per cent of proceed of sale, Sheriff said.
He added that based on the AGF’s introduction, his firm went to the court, got an interim order of forfeiture and later a final fortune order on some of the property.
Sheriff said: “On the 8th day of October,2021, the Federal Government of Nigeria granted the request of the firm of Jerry Ikputu & Partners to trace, recover and submit the abandoned Federal Government properties in eleven States of Federation.
“Further to the above, on the 16th November,2021 Honourable Justice I.E Ekwo of the Federal High Court of Abuja granted the reliefs of M.E Sheriff of M.E Sheriff & Co and forfeited temporarily assets to the Federal Government of Nigeria all assets as listed on the instruction letter referred above.
“The Honourable Justice I.E Ekwo also ordered the Federal Government to make a publication of the said temporary forfeiture inviting all persons /bodies to, within 14 days of the order, show cause why order of final forfeiture should not be made forfeiting the properties to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The Federal Government, by way of complying with the court’s order, made a publication in the Punch newspaper of the 18th day of November 2021, specifically at page 34.
“The court, after giving members of the public opportunity to express interest in any of the Federal Government and the fact that no individual laid any claim, granted a final forfeiture in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria on the 31st January,2022.
“The forfeited properties are from 10 states as the Attorney-General of Lagos had filed an affidavit informing the Court that there is a law converting Federal Government assets to Lagos State.
“Hence, preliminary objections were taken with respect to Federal Governments assets located in Lagos State.
“Since the success in securing the final forfeiture order, no single property has been sold and all recovered assets are intact.
“Anybody claiming any sale arising from the recovered assets is by this publication invited to present a petition to the office of Honourable Attorney General of the Federation (HAGF) or Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC),” Sheriff said.