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Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of Over N12.18bn Properties Linked To Emefiele

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6 months ago

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The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday ordered the final forfeiture to the Federal Government properties valued at over N11.14bn and another N1.04 billion linked to the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke made the order of permanent forfeiture after hearing an application filed and argued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its counsel Chineye Okezie.

On June 5, 2024, The judge had upheld the anti-graft agency’s motion filed and argued by its counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo for a temporary forfeiture of the properties.

Oyedepo informed the court that Emefiele was suspected of having bought the choice properties by proxy, with the proceeds of fraud.

The EFCC named two current and one former CBN staff as Emefiele’s accomplices in the alleged fraud.

The trio, according to the affidavit filed in support of the application, are Obayemi Oluwaseun Teben and Akomolafe Adebayo working with Olubunmi Makinde a former CBN staff and others.

The properties are mostly located in highbrow parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Justice Aneke ordered the EFCC to publish the order for interim forfeiture in a national newspaper for any interested party to show cause why the final order of forfeiture should not be made.

The judge then adjourned for a hearing of the application for final forfeiture.

Upon resumption on June 21, no party appeared in court to contest the judge’s interim order and Chineye Okezie moved her application for the permanent forfeiture.

After reading a 41-paragraph affidavit deposed to by an EFCC Investigating Officer, Michael John Idoko, the 19 Exhibits attached, a Written Address signed by Okezie, and after hearing Okezie’s motion, Justice Aneke granted the application.

The properties were listed by the EFCC in two schedules, A and B.

The judge said: “Having carefully considered the application and submission of counsel, it is hereby ordered as follows: – that a final forfeiture order of this honourable court is hereby made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria, properties contained in Schedule A herein which were traced and reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.”

They include shops and apartments at Cadastral Zone Maitama and Wuse.

For Schedule B, Justice Aneke added: “That a final forfeiture order of this Honourable Court is hereby made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria, properties contained in Schedule B herein which properties were traced to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.”

The properties include lands and apartments which were paid for on behalf of Oluwaseun at a total value of N1.04 billion.

According to the affidavit, Obayemi Oluwaseun Teben and Akomolafe Adebayo working with Olubunmi Makinde “used their positions and Influence as CBN staff to secure retail and Special allocation of Foreign Exchange to different companies in exchange for kickbacks.

“That Olubunmi Makinde is the link between Obayemi Oluwaseun Teben and Akomolafe Adebayo and the various companies applying for the purchase of foreign exchange.

“That Obayemi Oluwaseun Teben and Akomolafe Adebayo as staffs of the Central Bank of Nigeria has access to the bidding processes and bidding Data of companies who has applied for the approval of form Ms to the CBN through their various commercial banks.”

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EVENTS

A renowned Edo son, General Godwin Osagie Abbe is dead.

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34 mins ago

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December 22, 2024

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A renowned Edo son, General Godwin Osagie Abbe is dead.
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He died some hours ago after a protracted illness, a family source has confirmed.

Born 10 January 1949 in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria he was a retired Nigerian Army Major General and former Defence Minister of Nigeria.

Before then, he served as the Nigerian Minister of Interior.

Godwin Abbe joined the military in 1967 as a private, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in July 1968, and subsequently promoted Colonel in 1986. He served during the Nigerian Civil War.

He was a graduate of the United States Army Infantry School Fort Benning, Georgia, Ghana Armed Forces Staff College and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic studies, Kuru.

Gen Abbe was the military governor of Akwa Ibom State 1988–1990) and Rivers State (1990–1991).

He then became General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division Nigerian Army; Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and Commander, National War College. He retired in 1999 with the rank of Major General.

May His Gallant Soul Rest With The Saints🙏 — in London, United Kingdom.

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Anambra State Govt. Rescues 13 Children From Traffickers, Arrests Suspects

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1 day ago

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December 21, 2024

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Anambra State Govt. Rescues 13 Children From Traffickers, Arrests Suspects

By OCHA Brigade Media

13 children have been rescued from suspected child traffickers in Otolo Nnewi by a joint taskforce of Operation Clean And Healthy Anambra, OCHA Brigade and Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs.

The joint taskforce also confiscated fake documents that aided the trafficking.

The children were found malnourished and have been denied education.

Report say that the trafficker adopts and sold children to people from different parts of the country.

The suspected trafficker, Angela Okechukwu and her collaborators were also arrested.

Speaking, the Managing Director of OCHA Brigade, Comrade Celestine Anere who frowned at the poor health condition the children who are aged between two and twelve years are subjected to, assured that the state government will continue to crack down on all sorts of illegality and warning all criminal minded individuals to relocate from the state or face the full wrath of the law.

Some of the residents of the community, Ikechukwu Nnabuike and Ifechukwu Okoro recalled several interventions they had made against the woman but fell on deaf ears and appreciated the state government for the rapid intervention to end the unlawful act.

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EVENTS

Nigerian Army Announces Massive Promotion Of 108 Officers

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2 days ago

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December 20, 2024

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The Nigerian Army has announced the promotion of 108 senior officers, including 35 Brigadier Generals elevated to the rank of Major General and 73 Colonels promoted to Brigadier General.

The Army Council approved the promotions on Thursday, as announced in a statement by Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, on Friday.

Among those promoted to Major General are Brigadier Generals A. Garba, Acting Provost Marshal, and U.M. Alkali, Deputy Chief of Administration at the Directorate of Veteran Affairs. Others include A.G.L. Haruna, Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, and I.A. Ajose, Acting GOC 8 Division.

Similarly, officers elevated from Colonel to Brigadier General include Col. S.M. Iliya, Commander 43 Engineers Brigade, Col. O. Igwe, Commander 78 Supply and Transport, and Col. N.S. Onuchukwu, Chief Medical Director at 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, among others.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, congratulated the newly promoted officers and urged them to justify their elevation through exemplary leadership, innovative strategies, and unwavering loyalty to their oath of allegiance and the Nigerian Constitution.

He emphasized the importance of tackling contemporary security challenges and maintaining the trust placed in them by their elevation.

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