An Abuja division of the Federal High Court ordered the final forfeiture of N775 million and three properties linked to the former accountants general of the federation, Jonah Otunla, and Colonel Bello Fadile.
Judge Donatus Okorowo granted the final confiscation order on Monday following an application filed with the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
In granting the order, the judge stated that the court was satisfied with the evidence presented before it by the EFCC. Accordingly, he ordered the final forfeiture of the assets from the Federal Government of Nigeria.
background: The EFCC had argued that the properties were the product of illegal activities. They claimed to have recovered the assets while investigating contract fraud at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under Sambo Dasuki.
Colonel Bello Fadile was an assistant to the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki.
According to the EFCC, the N775 million was repaid by the ex-AGF and the late Otunba Ade Adelaku during the investigation, while the real estate was allegedly proceeds from an illegal activity received, retained, concealed and converted by the defendants of the Office of the President’s National Security Adviser.
On July 20, 2020, the court ordered the provisional confiscation of the assets and ordered that they be published in a national circulation newspaper so that any person who has an interest in the properties can present themselves and show the reasons why they should not be confiscated. in favor of the FG.
On August 11, 2022, the EFCC, in compliance with the court order, published the order in one of the national newspapers.
Confiscated properties: Three properties located at No. 8 Ajayi Crowther Street, Asokoro, Abuja; a parcel of land in Plot 1960 Cadastral Zone A05 Maitama District, FCT, Abuja; a hotel, which is under construction with a generator set, located at Plot 621, Road 37, Gwarimpa, FCT, Abuja and a 4-bedroom double maisonette with guard rooms located at Plot 736, 7th Avenue Gwarimpa, FCT, Abuja were confiscated.
For the record: Otunla was appointed general accountant of the federation on June 28, 2011 and served until June 12, 2015.
He was succeeded by Ahmed Idris, the suspended AGF.
He also served as board member of the Central Bank of Nigeria.