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Tag: property

  • Ojukwu property: Pre-trial conference May 7

    An Awka High Court in Anambra State has fixed pre-trial conference in the Sir Louis Ojukwu property tussle for May 7.

    The adjournment followed failure of the first defendant’s lawyer, Okwuchukwu Ugolo (SAN), to comply with the High Court rules with respect to change of counsel.

    Two brothers of the Ojukwu lineage – Ikemefuna and Chukwuma – sued Dr Joseph Ojukwu, Dr Ike Ojukwu, Bianca Ojukwu and Mr. Lotenna Ojukwu in 2014.

    The plaintiffs, among other reliefs, want 25 per cent share in their father’s property at 73, Owerri road, Nnewi, Anambra State.

    They asked the court to grant an order that the will of Sir Louis Ojukwu be resealed.

    They want a declaration that they are entitled to 25 per cent of Ojukwu Transport Company, and an order compelling the defendants to account to them management of the late Sir Louis Ojukwu’s property over the years.

    The first defendant, Dr Joseph Ojukwu, was represented by Mr. Gerald Ezeuko (SAN).

    Messrs Ebuka Ogwu and Christopher Ezeoka appeared for the second defendant (Lotanna Ojukwu) and the fifth defendant (Ojukwu Transport Company).

    At yesterday’s sitting, counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr. Chuka Osianatogu, noted the mix up in the appearance at court.

    According to him, counsel to the first defendant failed to comply with Order 48 of the High Court (Civil Procedure) rule.

    But Ugolo said he would file papers to put their house in order, while applying for a new date to enable him to file pre-trial conference.

    The court observed that the earlier order of hearing notice on the third defendant, Bianca Ojukwu, was not properly served.

    It further noted that the fourth defendant, the Probate Registrar of Awka High Court, was not served.

    Justice Dennis Mmaduechesi, after listening to the arguments from counsel, adjourned the matter till May 7.

  • Tax: Govt targets property owners in highbrow areas

    Tax: Govt targets property owners in highbrow areas

    The Federal Government has extended its searchlight on tax evaders with net-worth properties in highbrow areas of major cities.

    The Federal Government on July 1, 2017 granted tax payers a nine-month grace to regularise their tax status under the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS).

    Yesterday, a  source in the Presidency told reporters that the government through its data mining agency “Project Lighthouse” had received documents on property owners across the country from state governments.

    The first set of property owners that will come under scrutiny for tax compliance are owners of buildings in Maitama, Asokoro, Garki ll, Wuse ll in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and those on Banana Island and its environs Magodo, Lekki, Ikoyi in Lagos state.

    The source revealed that tax records and bank account details of these property owners are being reviewed by the team of “Project Lighthouse.”

    The source said “the extension of the searchlight on these property owners is not unconnected with Illicit Financial Flow (IFF). Most of these people are diverting their incomes to properties and are not paying taxes.”

    It was further learnt that some state governments in collaboration with the federal government have provided electronic searchable data base for individual and corporate property owners with the following key information: Name of owner, plot number, location and Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) number.

    It was also leant that the federal government is extending the searchlight to other northern states, the south east and the south-south regions.

    The decision to go after highbrow property owners the source said, is because “it has been observed that their life style does not reflect in their tax payment.”

    Last week, the federal government played to prosecute tax evaders from April 1. Under the VAIDS programme, state governments will be major beneficiaries of the programme because after the recovery, the money will go to the states, which is why the states are cooperating with the federal government on the scheme.

  • Daily Times property invaded in ownership dispute

    Daily Times property invaded in ownership dispute

    Property estimated at millions of naira belonging to Daily Times in Lagos has been demolished.

    This followed a dispute over the ownership of the publishing outfit.

    Daily Times publisher Fidelis Anosike, who represents the firm’s parent company, Folio Communications Limited, alleged that the demolition was the handiwork of agents of Senator Ikechukwu Obiora, who is contesting the firm’s ownership with the publisher.

    Anosike said armed policemen and suspected thugs, last Thursday, invaded the newspaper’s headquarters at Agidingbi in Ikeja, the Lagos State capital, and carted away over N3 million cash, a 100 KVA generator, computers and furniture, among others.

    According to him, the inavaders also went to Daily Times multi-billion naira property at 15, Cooper Road in Ikoyi, occupied on lease by ace television broadcaster, Patrick Oke, and demolished it.

    But Obiora disputed the claims.

    He said whatever actions he took were in compliance with a valid court order.

    Anosike spoke on Monday at the firm’s headquarters.

    He said: “When they came in, Ikechukwu Obiora and the fake policemen carted away all our computers. They came on last Thursday and took over the premises, chased the workers away and took away the computers and money. They broke down the place, all in the name of trying to take over Daily Times.”

    Anosike accused Obiora of working in cahoots with a Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) and a Lagos-based property magnate.

    According to him, Obiora has a contrived interest in the property.

    Anosike said: “He (Obiora) claimed he was the owner of Daily Times. He then sued the paper through another company of his, claiming that Daily Times owed that other company N2 million. He further claimed that both companies had entered a consent judgment, agreeing that Daily Times had agreed to give up all its assets worth over N9 billion to that other company as payment for the N2 million debt.

    “So, it was on that basis they moved in here. It wasn’t based on an order. It was just impunity.”

    Oke, a former Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) presenter, corroborated part of Anosike’s claims.

    He said his family was thrown out of the Ikoyi property he had occupied for 14 years before it was demolished.

    According to him, his wife was not allowed to take anything from his home or studio, which Obiora’s men allegedly took away.

    Oke said: “A certain Obiora came here once and said he co-owns the Daily Times with Folio Communications’ Mr Anosike. He said he was the landlord of this place. I have been here for 14 years.

    “I said it was not true because I have been dealing with the Anosikes for 14 years and that they are the ones I know and recognise as owners of the land.

    “Obiora claimed they had been to court to resolve the issue and I told him if he was serious, he should provide proof of what he was saying. He said he did not have time for all that, that he came to relocate me.

    “I was surprised! A place I have been living in for 14 years. How can you just come and say you want to relocate me?

    “I have spent millions on this property, putting it in good shape and making it habitable. Suddenly, he wants to throw me out!

    “Obiora said he was going to Abuja and that when he got back, we would conclude.

    “I travelled to Abuja the following week. Whilst I was there, I suddenly got a call from Lagos on November 21, saying some policemen were coming to raid my house the next day.

    “I called my lawyer and he was here in the morning of November 22. My lawyer filed a stay of execution before a Magistrates’ Court at Igbosere and we were given December 19 for the hearing. The magistrate ignored it and executed their plans.

    “My lawyer made them to understand that the occupant was not Daily Times but me; still, they did not listen.

    “They brought armed policemen and different people. They broke in and started throwing out all my things. They brought trucks and started packing my property. I don’t have the slightest idea where they took my things to.

    “My wife begged to take certain things but they refused. They later accepted on the grounds that she would pay them N1 million.

    “About 40 people were brought to destroy the property. This is my life; everything I’ve ever worked for was here.

    “We went to court to stop it but the court kept avoiding it. I have lost confidence in the Nigerian court system.

    “We are suing for damages and I hope Obiora can cope because we will go to the end of the earth to get payment for the damage done here.

    “Until recently, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) ordered his arrest. Since then, they have disappeared. The IG has proved that the country is not so helpless, that there is still a voice. We are really grateful to him for this. This has restored my hope that Nigeria is not all corrupt after all.”

    But Obiora said Oke was evicted pursuant to a Lagos State Magistrates’ Court’s judgment and that the property was handed over to his wife.

    According to him, Anosike is an impostor.

    He said: “Fidelis Anosike has no locus to talk about Daily Times. He is not an officer of the Daily Times in any capacity whatsoever: not as shareholder, a director or secretary, chairman or anything. He’s just an impostor who has been sacked from this company since 2010 by the judgment of a Federal High Court on account of the fact that he sold assets of the company to purport to use to pay for his own shares and the court declared that he acquired no shares in the company.

    “He and his group, Folio Communications Limited, as well as his brothers have been sacked from this company since 2010. But they refused to leave. The Federal High Court said they never invested one kobo in the company.”

  • Lagos seeks possession of director’s ‘stolen N28.5m, property’

    Lagos seeks possession of director’s ‘stolen N28.5m, property’

    The Lagos State Government yesterday at a Federal High Court in Lagos objected to the forfeiture of the N28.5million allegedly stolen by a director in its employ to the Federal Government.

    The cash was allegedly found by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the accounts of the Director of Accounts in Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) Mr Anifowoshe Muhammed Jamiu Alade.

    Last December 7, Justice Rilwan Aikawa ordered the temporary forfeiture of the cash and properties recovered from Alade by the EFCC.

    The EFCC, through its counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the cash “is reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: stealing.”

    The properties include six flats of three-bedroom, six flats of two-bedroom, six flats of one bedroom at Adewale Osiyeku Street, Offin-Ile Igbogbo, Ikorodu, and four flats of a three-bedroom duplex at 6, Tunde Gabby Close, Dopemu, Pako Bus Stop, Agege, all of which EFCC said were proceeds of crime .

    Other properties forfeited to the Federal Government are a plot of land at Queen’s Garden Estate, off Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a semi-detached three-bedroom flat and one unit of three-bedroom terrace at Cranbel Court, Citiview Estate, Arepo, Ogun State.

    Justice Aikawa directed EFCC to notify Alade to appear before the court and show cause within 14 days why the properties should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.

    But at the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, the Director of Civil Litigation, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mr. Saheed Quadri, challenged the EFCC’s application.

    Quadri prayed the court to forfeit the properties to the Lagos State Government, because, according to him, it was Lagos State funds that were allegedly diverted.

    Earlier, Alade’s counsel, Mr. Wole Okeniile, argued that EFCC had not been able to prove its allegations.

    According to him, “he who alleges must prove with fact” thus, the EFCC could not rely on the claim that it “reasonably suspected” the defendant of having committed a crime.

    Okeniile said the land for the property which the EFCC is  seeking to forfeit to the Federal Government was bought in  2000,at N50,000.

    He challenged the EFCC to prove that the property was acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities, and “not for the EFCC to dump documents on the court.”

    The lawyer urged the court to discountenance the commission’s application against his client, and dismiss same accordingly.

    But Oyedepo said Alade had admitted committing the crime for failing  to file a counter affidavit on why the cash and properties should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.

    He prayed the court to grant the application for the final forfeiture of the cash and the properties.

    The EFCC  counsel prayed the court not to uphold the state government’s request  submission because it (Lagos) and the Federal Government “will know how to settle it between themselves.”

    Justice Aikawa reserved ruling for January 31.

  • Businessman accused of damaging landlord’s property

    A 46-year-old businessman, Reynolds Adeola,  yesterday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly damaging his landlord’s property.

    Adeola was arraigned before Magistrate J.A. Adigun for alleged breach of the peace and malicious damage.

    The accused, who lives in Agege, Lagos, pleaded not guilty. He was granted N100,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    Adigun said the sureties should be gainfully employed and also show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    According to prosecuting Sergeant Godwin Awase, the accused committed the offences in 2016 at Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos.

    He said the accused maliciously damaged the property of Mr Akin Adebisi.

    Awase submitted that Adebisi spent N527,000 to repair the property.

    “The accused, who lived in the complainant’s three-bedroom flat for three years, damaged two security doors, aluminum window glass, kitchen cabinet, wardrobe doors and a toilet seat, among other property.

    “He promised to effect the repair before leaving the apartment.

    “After efforts to get him to repair the damaged items failed, the complainant (Adebisi) did the repair and forwarded the bill to the accused, who acknowledged it for the repair,’’ he said.

    The prosecutor added that the accused conducted himself in a manner likely to breach the peace by issuing two cheques to the complainant which were dishonoured for insufficient fund.

    “The accused issued a cheque of N527,000 for the repair of the damaged property and another cheque of N136,000 for electricity indebtedness.

    “When the cheques were presented to the bank, they were returned dud, ‘’ he said.

    The case was adjourned till January 9.

  • Hearing stalled in Diezani’s $4.760m property forfeiture case

    Hearing stalled in Diezani’s $4.760m property forfeiture case

    The hearing of an application to forfeit two penthouses valued at $4.760m allegedly belonging to former Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke was stalled at the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday.

    Neither the applicant, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), nor the respondents were represented when the case called for hearing before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun.

    A new date, February 12 next year, has been fixed for the hearing.

    The court, on December 5, ordered the temporary forfeiture of Penthouse 21, Building 5, Block C, 11th floor (Bella Vista Estate) Banana Island, Ikoyi, and Penthouse 22, Block B (Admiralty Estate) also in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    EFCC said the properties were reasonably suspected to have been acquired with “proceeds or crime”.

    Mrs Alison-Madueke, Donald Amangbo, Schillenburg LLC and Sequoyah Property Limited are the respondents.

    The commission said the companies in whose names the companies were acquired belong to the former minister.

    An investigator, Abdulrasheed Bawa, who deposed to a supporting affidavit to the ex-parte motion, said sometime in 2016, a search warrant was executed at Amangbo’s premises.

    He said Amangbo was “an acquaintance of former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs Alison Madueke.”

    The investigator said one of the documents recovered from Amamgbo led the operatives to the Deputy Managing Director YF Construction Development and Real Estate Limited, Mr. Fadi Basbous.

    The deponent said Basbous made a statement where he stated that the two properties were sold at $3.570million and $1.194 million and are owned by Sequoyah Properties Limited and Schillenburg LLC.

    Bawa said the properties were paid for by Mrs Angela Jide-Jones and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited.

    According to him, Mrs  Jide-Jone was married to Mrs Alison-Madueke’s associate, Jide Omokore, who registered and promoted Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept.

    The EFCC investigator said Omokore paid for the properties through his wife, Angela.

    According to the operative, Omokore allegedly directed the developer (seller) to sign the agreements with Schillenburg LLC and Sequoyah Properties.

    The deponent said Schillenburg LLC was registered in Hongkong and was transferred on March 30, 2012, to Amamgbo as sole owner.

    According to the EFCC investigator, Amamgbo stated in his statement that he incorporated Schillenburg LLC and handed it over to Mrs. Alison-Madueke “for a transaction”.

    The deponent added that Sequoyah Properties “is among 18 companies registered by Donald Chid Amangbo for holding the properties of Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke”.

  • I will sell all looted property to the public, says Buhari

    I will sell all looted property to the public, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has promised that  all the property recovered from looters of the nation’s treasury would be sold and the proceeds remitted to the Federal Government coffers.

    President Buhari who spoke in Kano on Thursday during interactive session with community leaders and stakeholders in the state held in Coronation Hall, Kano Government House, also reaffirmed his determination to wage war against corruption.

    According to him, that property that would be sold would be served will serve as deterrent to politicians who are in the habit of swindling the country.

    The president said that the rationale behind the decision was to avoid the previous mistake he made when he confiscated stolen property as Head of State and did not auction them.

    He regretted that the property were later returned back to the looters when he was forced out of power.

    “Public office holders involved in sharp malpractices would incur the wrath of God,” he added.

    According to him, “those assigned into public positions of trust were mortals, they will transit and appear before their creator to answer for the misdeeds carried out while holding forth the position entrusted in their care by the populace.”

    He lamented that, “corruption and corrupt practices have assumed a frightening dimension,” pointing out that since assumption of office, his administration has invested handsomely on the fight to curb corruption.

    President Buhari added that, “they should all remember that one day, they will account for their misdeeds and answer their creators for their actions and inactions.”

    He further stated that, “it is infuriating that those tasked with the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria were detected to be engaged in criminal acts. Diplomatic passports, huge amount of foreign and local currencies were found in the possession of a judge, how does this sound.”

    Buhari also alleged that, “from 1999 to 2014 Nigeria exported over two million barrels of crude oil daily at the cost of 100 USD, the monies realized were squandered and looted. They failed to save for the future and this is where we are today.”

    “Those who ruled Nigeria without vision and looted the nation’s treasury are the same people boasting that they will displace the APC government and return to office. We will wait and see, if they think Nigerians are ignorant, they have the guts of declaring their intention to reclaim office,” Buhari stated.

    President Buhari cautioned the opposition camp to be ready to respond to questions from Nigerians on how they governed for 16 years without genuine development.

    President Buhari, however, thanked Kano people for their warm reception and promised to play his own part in the continued development of the state that gave him the highest votes of over two million in 2015 elections.

    Buhari said, “the mammoth crowd, children including children, women and youths who thronged the streets to catch a glimpse of me is a signal to those on the other side of the divide that I am still popular and relevant at home.”

    The Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi 11 who spoke in the occasion raised the alarm that, “danger is lurking ahead over the massive importation of cheap beverages into the country. I urge the Federal Government to do something urgent to stop this ugly trend.”

    He further called for the review of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) charter, saying the liberalization agreement of cross-border trade does not favour Nigeria as massive smuggling of sub-standard products such as rice, textile materials, beverages have continued to kill the nation’s economy.

  • Man gets two years for stealing church property

    A 27-year-old driver, Ishaq Bala, who broke into a church and stole drums and iron rods, has been jailed two years.

    A Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court in Nasarawa said Bala, who lives at Mararaba, was found guilty of the three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, housebreaking and theft.

    The Judge, Mr. Albert Maga, held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and that the defendant was guilty.

    “He is hereby sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for the three-count charge,” he said.

    Maga, however, gave Bala an option of N10,000 fine, warning him to desist from crime.

    The accused was first arraigned on August 18 on a three-count charge, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    Police prosecutor Agabi Auta told the court that Pastor Habila Dasat of Cocin Church, Base 4, Aku village, Mararaba, lodged a complaint against the accused on August 15 at `A’ Divisional Police Station.

    He said the accused and three others at large, broke into the church through the fence and stole a set of drums and iron rods.

    “The security guard apprehended the accused, others ran away, but the stolen items were recovered from him.”

    The offences contravene sections 97, 288 and 347 of the Penal Code.

  • Boy jailed for stealing church’s property

    Boy jailed for stealing church’s property

    An Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, has sentenced a boy, Muideen Nasiru, to 39 months imprisonment for stealing aluminum frames and other items, worth N500,000, from a church.

    The Magistrate, Mrs O.K. Omotosho, sentenced Nasiru, 18, after he pleaded guilty to a three-count charge of conspiracy, break-in and stealing.

    Omotosho said the convict should spend his prison term at Agodi Prisons, Ibadan.

    “The young boy is a thief, no doubt; he has a godfather, who buys stolen items from him.

    “The society will be better for it if he is incarcerated; he may learn a thing or two in prison.

    “He is hereby sentenced to three months’ imprisonment on count one, 18 months on count two and 18 months on count three,” she said.

    Omotosho held that the sentence should run concurrently.

    Police prosecutor Olalekan Adegbite told the court that the accused committed the offences with others at large at Christ’s Ambassador Church, Inalende, Ibadan.

    He said the accused stole four church bells, a drum set, window frames and four gas lamps.

    Adegbite said the property belonged to the complainant, Rev. Faith Ikumapayi, the church founder.

    The offences contravene sections 390 (9), 415’and 516 of the Criminal Law of Oyo State, 2,000.

  • Tighten investigations linked to property

    SIR: The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) commends the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for the rigorous work it has embarked upon in the investigation and review of ownership of several choice property dotting the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, and especially in Abuja.  We urge the commission to tighten all investigations linked to property ownership. We make the call in the light of recent reports revealing the extent of alleged stolen public monies being laundered through property.

    A Stolen Asset Recovery Report published by the World Bank and the UNODC in 2014 has said that most monies being used for the acquisition of land and the building of property worldwide comes from proceeds of crime. To this end therefore, we reiterate our call on the federal government to tighten investigations related to property to use watertight evidence to bring such individuals who launder ill-gotten monies through property.

    Several instances wherein ill-gotten wealth have been allegedly used to procure property abound. Past public servants are alleged to own mansions in Dubai put at a cost of N7.1 billion, and property dotting the nooks and crannies of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. There is also a case involving former Chief of Staff who allegedly spent the sum of N1.4billion allegedly stolen from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force to purchase a mansion in Abuja. For lack of thorough investigations, these properties have not been seized and confiscated. The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has only just asked for the freezing of humongous sums, $5.9m and N2, 421,953,522.78, belonging to public servants and their spouses to the federal government.

    It is in the light of these overwhelming scenarios that we recommend that the Federal government exploit the fullest benefit of our anti-money-laundry laws, together with recent treaties Nigeria has just signed to wrest these property from those who have used stolen wealth to procure same. Several of those properties can be converted to public use, especially for the development of critical areas of our economy – Education, ICT, Agricultural and the Health sectors. ANEEJ is pleased that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, recently announced the creation of special courts for hearing and quick determination of cases related to money laundering and allied financial and corruption cases.

    Erhisohwode maintained.

     

    • Erhisohwode Assurance,

    ANEEJ, Benin City.