Court Grants EFCC Final Forfeiture Of Ex-Kwara Executive Director’s Building

Court Grants EFCC Final Forfeiture Of  Ex-Kwara Executive Director’s Building

An Ilorin High Court, Kwara State, today, granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) Ilorin Zone, the final forfeiture of a building belonging the immediate past Executive Director of Harmony Holdings Limited of Kwara State Government, Mr. Adebayo Sanni. 

The court presided over by Justice Sikiru Oyinloye, granted the application filed by the Counsel to the EFCC, Sesan Ola after the respondent failed to show up in Court to challenge the legality of the proceedings. 

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Moving the application for final forfeiture of the building, EFCC’s counsel, Ola told the Presiding Judge that the application dated january 14, 2020, was pursuant to Section 17 of Advance Fee Fraud other Fraud Related Offences Act No 14, 2006, section 44v(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the inherent jurisdiction of this honourable Court.

He said: “My Lord,  we have a motion dated 14th day of January 2020, it was brought pursuant to section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No 14, 2006, section 44v(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the inherent jurisdiction of this honourable Court.

“Our motion is praying this honourable Court for an order forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the landed property with appurtenances situated at 11, Catchment Road,  GRA, Ilorin,  Kwara State, found and recovered by the Commission from the respondent which is believed to have been acquired through the proceeds of unlawful activity.

The EFCC Lawyer urged the Court to look at the merit of application and all the Exhibits attached in granting the request. 

EFCC in a thirty-five paragraphs affidavit deposed to by one of its Investigative Odficers, Denis Nnachi, said: ” Investigations revealed that the Ex-Kwara Executive Director fraudulently sold five plots of land belonging to the Kwara State Government in Galadimawa area of Abuja and used it to construct the building in question.

“The Respondent used his position as Executive Director of Harmony Holdings Limited to influence the award of Contracts to several companies where he had interest”

The affidavit further stated that “It was discovered that the property known as 11, Catchment Road , GRA, Ilorin was constructed and developed using proceeds of unlawful activity “

Delivering Judgment on the matter,  Justice Oyinloye held that: “I have seen the hearing notice duly served on the defendant,  it is clear evidence before me that the respondent was duly served with the hearing notice of this proceedings,  the respondent did not file any paper to challenge the legality of this proceedings or claim ownership of the property in question.

“I accept, believe and rely on all the thirty five paragraphs affidavit filed by the applicant,  though the application was not challenged but I consider it meritorious.  The property is hereby forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

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