The Federal High Court
in Lagos has ordered the temporary forfeiture of N2.2billion recovered from
former Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Adesola Amosu.
Justice Mojisola
Olatoregun made the order based on an ex-parte application by
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The judge ruled: “An
interim order is made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the total
sum of N2,244,500,000 found and recovered by the commission from the first
respondent (Amosu) which sum is reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful
activity.”
The judge granted an
interim order for the temporary forfeiture of N190,828,978.15 recovered from a
former Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Director of Finance and Budget Air Commodore
Olugbenga Gbadebo.
Justice Olatoregun
also ordered temporary forfeiture of N101 million recovered from Solomon
Enterprises, a company linked to Amosu.
EFCC said the sum “is
reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.”
The judge directed
EFCC to publish the interim order in The Nation and The
Punch so that the respondents or anyone interested can show cause as
to why the final order of forfeiture should not be made in favour of the
Federal Government.
Justice Olatoregun
made the order on June 7 after the ex-parte application was
moved by the EFCC’s lawyer, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo. A copy of the order was obtained
yesterday.
Amosu, Gbadebo and
former NAF Chief of Accounts and Budgeting Air Vice Marshal Jacob are on trial
before Justice Mohammed Idris of the same court.
EFCC accused them of
converting N21billion from NAF through various companies, namely Delfina Oil
and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil and Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and Properties Company
Ltd, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Ltd, Deegee Oil and Gas Ltd, Timsegg
Investment Ltd and Solomon Health Care Ltd.
Before the trial
started, Amosu had told the court that he was holding plea bargain talks with
the EFCC.
Arguing his bail
application last June after Amosu’s arraignment, his lawyer Chief Bolaji
Ayorinde (SAN) said his client had returned “collossal sums”.
However, after the
plea bargain talks broke down the trial started.
EFCC’s investigator
Tosin Owobo, testifying, said N5.9billion was transferred from NAF accounts to
Delfina Oil and Gas, among others. He said once the money was converted to
dollars, it would be handed over to Gbadebo, who took it to Adigun, who in turn
took it to Amosu.
He said Mcallan Oil
and Gas received N6.1billion from NAF. Trapezites BDC received
N3.6billion.
Owobo said Deegee Oil
and Gas received N800million from NAF accounts. Timsegg also got the same
amount.
“These companies were
not into oil and gas. The N21billion was moved from various NAF accounts
without appropriation,” he said.
The defendants were
accused of using the companies to convert and conceal the money.
Amosu and Adigun were
said to have, between July 17 and September 16, 2014, removed over
N663.4million from the Nigerian Air Force accounts to purchase properties
at 50-52 Tenterden Grove, London (NW4 1TH) and at 93B Shirehall
Park, LondonNW4 2QU, United Kingdom.
They were accused of
buying 40A, Bourdillon, Ikoyi, with N900million, and a property at Sinari
Daranijo on Victoria Island with N1.5billion.
EFCC said they also
bought a property named Cappadol Mall at Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Wuse II
Abuja, for N750million, as well as a property worth over N1.7billion at
Agodogba Street, Parkview, Ikoyi, Lagos, using the Air Force’s money.
Other properties they
allegedly bought using Air Force’s funds include one at Salt Lake Street,
Maitama, Abuja; one at Agadez Street off Aminu Kano Crescent, Abuja; 61A,
Lake Chad Street, Maitama, Abuja; and one at 1, River Street, Wuse II Abuja
using alleged stolen funds.
The defendants
allegedly used N428,139,539.00 removed from NAF accounts to renovate and
purchase medical equipment for Solomon HealthCare Ltd situate at 24th Adeniyi
Jones Street, Ikeja, Lagos.
Justice Olatoregun
adjourned till June 29 for the final forfeiture hearing. The trial continues
today before Justice Idris.
The Nation
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