The Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained an interim court order compelling Abdulaziz Yari, Governor of Zamfara State, to forfeit the sums of N500 million and $500,000 to the federal government.

The commission alleged that the monies were part of the Paris Club funds given by the federal government to state governors to pay off salary and pension arrears in their respective states.

In an affidavit filed by the EFCC before the federal high court, Abuja, to support its ex parte application, Yari was accused of diverting N500 million to offset a personal loan he obtained from the First Generation Mortgage Bank Limited.

Yari, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, was also accused of transferring $500,000 to Gosh Projects Limited, a property firm, for the purchase of building materials for his 100-room hotel project in Lagos. Part of the looted funds was also used for the purchase of treasury bills and transfers to offshore accounts.

The allegedly looted funds were recovered from the two firms by the EFCC.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba granted the interim forfeiture order on June 30, but details of the judgement became public notice on Wednesday.

The judge also gave a 14-day ultimatum within which any interested party can show approach the court and provide evidence why monies should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.

Yari is not the first sitting governor whose assets would be frozen by the EFCC.

In June 2016, the commission froze the personal account of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, alleging that it contained proceeds of crime.

The EFCC said Fayose had benefitted from the $2.1 billion arms deal money which was misappropriated by Sambo Dasuki, former National Security Dasuki, NSA.

However, the freeze order was lifted after Fayose filed a counter application at the Ekiti high court, which held that the EFCC’s action was against laid down procedures as the Governor was never invited nor charged with any crime before his assets were frozen.

“The plaintiff is entitled to be heard before his property or money can be seized, doing otherwise will amount to denying him fair hearing and constitutional rights,” ruled Justice Taiwo Taiwo.

Fayose is the first to speak out in condemnation of the “persecution” of Yari by the EFCC.

He said EFCC’s action is “a direct attack on all the governors of the 36 States of Nigeria”, and called on all the governors to “rise and protect the NGF”.