The federal high court sitting in Lagos state on Monday, April 3, granted an order of interim forfeiture of N725 million diverted from the account of
The federal high court sitting in Lagos state on Monday, April 3, granted an order of interim forfeiture of N725 million diverted from the account of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) by the agency’s former director-general, Patrick Akpobolokemi.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of a landed property linked to Akpobolokemi in Plot J 37A 218 Close, 2nd Avenue, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos state.
The presiding judge, Justice Tijjani Ringim, made the order sequel to a motion ex-parte filed by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Bilkisu Buhari.
Buhari told the judge that the sum was reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity, while the property was reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of fraudulent acts.
The EFCC counsel also asked for an order directing the anti-graft agency to publish the interim order in a national newspaper, “for anyone interested in the properties sought to be forfeited to appear before this honourable court to show cause within 14 days why the final order of forfeiture of the said properties should not be made in favour of the federal government.”
Justice Ringim, while granting the application, said that, “I have listened to the submission of counsel and perused the affidavit in support of the application together with exhibits.
“I find merit in this statutory application and same is granted as requested.”
It is worth noting that the EFCC is prosecuting Akpobolokemi, who was the DG of NIMASA between 2010 and 2015, for charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N8.5 billion.
