A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of Rockford Hotel, a multi-room hospitality facility located at 1, Feyisetan Street, Abule Iroko, Sango, Ogun State, over allegations that it was funded with proceeds of drug trafficking.
Justice Daniel Osiagor granted the order following an Exparte application filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which alleged that the hotel’s owner, Adekanbi Akeem Ayinde, is a fleeing narcotics suspect deeply linked to an international cocaine trafficking network.
The forfeiture covers the hotel “and all its appurtenances,” pending the conclusion of investigations.
Moving the application, NDLEA counsel and Commander of Narcotics, Barrister Abu Ibrahim, told the court that financial and operational investigations revealed suspicious, high-value transactions between Ayinde and Adekoya Adebukola Mary, a drug courier already convicted and jailed for attempting to export 2.20kg of cocaine to India.
According to the agency, Ayinde allegedly conspired with another fugitive, Yemi, to recruit Adekoya for the illicit trip. NDLEA said all efforts to apprehend the hotelier failed, prompting the need to preserve the property.
The ex parte motion was brought under several legal provisions, including Section 44(2)(B) & (K) of the 1999 Constitution, the NDLEA Act, and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022.
The NDLEA requested four major orders, all of which the court granted:
- Interim attachment of Rockford Hotel as suspected proceeds of unlawful activity.
- Advertisement of the forfeiture order in a national newspaper within 14 days.
- Appointment of an asset manager to run the hotel as a going concern pending the outcome of the case.
- Restriction order preventing any individual or entity from tampering with the property.
Supporting the motion was a 10-paragraph affidavit deposed to by NDLEA litigation officer, Okonkwo Ebuka Anthony, with several documentary exhibits detailing the investigations.
After listening to the submissions, Justice Osiagor ruled that the application was meritorious and granted every relief sought by the NDLEA.
The court then adjourned the matter to May 7 for a report on compliance with its orders.
