The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State, has ordered the interim forfeiture of N725.3 million and a property situated on the Banana Island area of Lagos linked to the former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi.
Justice Tijani Ringim gave the order, following a motion ex-parte filed and argued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Moving the application on Monday, April 3, 2023, the counsel to the EFCC, Bilikisu Buhari, told the court that the money was “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of an unlawful activity.”
Buhari also argued that the property was “reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of an unlawful activity.”
The EFCC counsel further prayed for an order directing the EFCC to publish the interim order in a national newspaper to enable anyone interested in the property sought to be forfeited to appear before the 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 of Nigeria.”
Justice Ringim, while granting the application, said: “I find merit in this statutory application, and same is granted as prayed.”
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