JUSTICE Anwuli Chikere of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday ordered the interim forfeiture of assets including money belonging to Salu Atawodi, a retired Air Vice Marshal (AVM), in an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Court ordered the interim forfeiture of $228,428.16 and N120, 546,042.02 including a property located at Plot No. 3004 Cadastral Zone E05, Aviation Village, District Abuja recovered by the EFCC, from Salu Atawodi, Atawodi Winnie and Vector Integrated Services Ltd.
A statement issued by Dele Oyewale, Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC said the property and monies were traced to AVM Salu Atawodi, Atawodi Winnie and Vector Integrated Services Ltd in an application brought by the Commission, seeking an interim forfeiture order of the sum and the property it recovered and said to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Justice Chikere gave the order following an ex-parte application filed by the EFCC, in pursuant to section 44 (2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14, 2006, and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
Ekele Iheanacho, prosecution counsel, in the application, asked the court to direct a publication of the interim order, in the name of the persons in whose possession the property and funds sought to be forfeited, in any national newspaper, and cause them to appear before the court to show cause within 14 days, why the final order of forfeiture of the property and monies mentioned should not be made in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Justice Chikere after granting all the prayers adjourned the case to June 30, 2020, for continuation of the case.
Abeeb Alawiye formerly works with The ICIR as a Reporter/Social Media officer. Now work as a Senior Journalist with BBC News Yoruba. You can shoot him an email via Abeeb.alawiye@bbc.co.uk or follow him on Twitter @habsonfloww