The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of the sum of N775 million and three properties located in the highbrow areas of Abuja to the Federal Government.
The money and properties are said to be the product of illicit activities of a former Accountant General of the Federation, Jonah Otunla and Colonel Bello Fadile, an aide to former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, November 21, secured the final forfeiture to the Federal Government.
The properties are located at No. 8 Ajayi Crowther Street, Asokoro, Abuja; a plot of land at Plot 1960, Cadastral Zone A05, Maitama District, FCT, Abuja; a hotel which is under construction with generating set, located at Plot 621, Road 37, Gwarimpa, FCT, Abuja and a twin 4 bedroom duplex with guard quarters located at Plot 736, 7th Avenue Gwarimpa, FCT, Abuja.
Moving a motion for the final forfeiture of the assets on Monday before a Federal High Court, Abuja, Counsel to the EFCC, Christopher Mshelia, informed the court that the assets recovered by the Commission in the course of investigating contract fraud in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under Sambo Dasuki, were proceeds of the unlawful activities of Colonel Bello Fadile and Jonah Otunla.
The N775 million was refunded by Otunla and Otunba Ade Adelakun (late) during the investigation, whilst the landed properties sought to be forfeited are “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of an unlawful activity received, retained, concealed and converted by the respondents from the office of the National Security Adviser to the President”.
The Commission had on July 20, 2020, secured an interim forfeiture order on the assets and also published the Order of the court on August 11, 2022, for the respondent to show cause why the money and properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The trial Judge, Justice Donatus Okorowo, in granting the final forfeiture, stated that the court was satisfied with the evidence before it and ordered the final forfeiture of the assets to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
