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Tag: Properties

  • Sanwo-olu vows to ensure the safety of Igbos, properties in Lagos

    Sanwo-olu vows to ensure the safety of Igbos, properties in Lagos

    The Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday visited many major markets populated by people from the South-East.

    The Lagos-born politician, took a tour of the markets ahead of the Saturday gubernatorial election, following the open endorsement for his re-election by the Ndigbo community in the state.

    It was a rousing welcome for Sanwo-Olu at an open forum organised by traders, under the aegis of the Auto Spare Parts And Machinery Dealers Association, in Trade Fair Complex, Ojo.

    The governor at the open forum pledged to ensure the safety of the businesses and properties of Ndigbo in Lagos State.

    The engagements were initiated in response to concerns raised over the safety of businesses and properties owned by South-East traders in Lagos.

    Sanwo-Olu allayed the fears of the Igbo traders, assuring them that Lagos would continue to be a melting pot for all Nigerians.

    He said his administration would continue to foster security and promote peaceful coexistence among all ethnic nationalities in the state.

    ”I am here on a solidarity visit and to thank you for your public endorsement of my humble self, which I believe will be reflected at the polls on Saturday with the highest number of votes cast from members of your community.

    ”You are not giving us your support for anything; you believe we deserve this encouragement because my team and I have worked tirelessly to improve your well-being.

    ”Very soon, Ojo will have a brand new General Hospital that will serve your needs. You also have seen expressways and bridges being completed on this corridor and we have awarded a rail project into Okokomaiko that will aid the movement of people and goods.

    ”I am excited that Lagos is on the path of growth. Through your cooperation and peaceful coexistence, we can ensure that we will not only build the state, but we will also build a better country for ourselves,” the governor said at the Trade Fair forum.

    He assured the Igbo traders of his government’s commitment to their prosperity, adding that the approval recently received by the state for the development of Badagry Seaport was to facilitate economic development and boost logistics, especially in the movement of goods.

    Sanwo-Olu pledged his administration’s commitment to the safety and security of non-indigenes living in Lagos, urging the Igbo traders not to listen to the scaremongers threatening to attack them because of their electoral choices.

    ”We will continue to work with your leadership to enhance cooperation and identify areas we can improve on to foster peace and stability. We will not be hostile to any community of non-indigenes.

    ”For as long as you conduct yourselves in a peaceful manner, your safety and security will remain our priority. There is no need for any law-abiding resident to be scared,” he said.

    ASPAMDA President, Chief Ngozi Emechebe, described Sanwo-Olu as ‘a true friend of Igbo’, noting that the governor had never been hostile to non-Yoruba residents living in the state.

    Emechebe said that the forum was initiated as a reassurance of support of the Ndigbo community to the governor’s re-election, saying that the traders would work for Sanwo-Olu’s electoral victory in their respective polling stations.

    “Sanwo-Olu is a good man and has demonstrated that he is a lover of Igbo. We have resolved to support the governor for the second term because of his performance and his economic policies that have supported our businesses.

    “Through this forum, we are assuring the governor that we shall sing the song of victory together with him,” he said.

     

  • Ike Ekweremadu: Court strikes out forfeiture order filed by EFCC

    Ike Ekweremadu: Court strikes out forfeiture order filed by EFCC

    A federal high court sitting in Abuja has stroked out an interim order of forfeiture filed by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, (EFCC), on properties belonging to the former deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, presiding on the case on Friday, stated that EFCC concealed facts when it applied for an interim forfeiture of the assets, stating that the application for forfeiture was not brought in good faith and ought to be struck out.

    According to Inyang Ekwo, he said that; “I do not think that the desired objective of the legislature in enacting the provision of Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act (AFFOROA), 2006 relied upon by the respondent (EFCC) in initiating the proceeding to obtain an ex-parte order of interim forfeiture order was for the provision to be used in any circumstance where the person affected is not in a position to defend himself or show cause as required.

    “I do not think that this position is correct. The requirement to file affidavit to show cause pursuant to S. 17 of the AFFOROA, 2006 will hold strong in a normal situation where the person required to do so is not fettered by any act, condition or situation that amounts to a deprivation of the right to show cause as required by law.

    “In this case, the respondent (EFCC) wrote Exhibit SIE 2 (a letter) to the Crown Prosecution Service in the United Kingdom which letter was used as evidence to deny Senator Ike Ekweremadu bail in the criminal proceedings.

    “At the same time, the respondent filed ex-parte application for interim forfeiture which upon order being made thereon required Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife to show cause in Nigeria why an order for final forfeiture ought not to be made.

    “I have been asking myself the question repeatedly: How can a citizen of Nigeria who is incarcerated outside the country to the knowledge of the respondent, be expected to show cause in an action in Nigeria brought by the respondent?

    “In other words, how do you help to tie down a man and initiate a fight and demand that the same man you have helped to tie down must defend himself?

    “This in my opinion, is an unconscionable act. The act of the respondent clearly shows that this action was brought in bad faith.

    “In law, bad faith entails dishonesty of belief or purpose. On the whole, I find that the application for forfeiture, going by the facts of this case has not been brought in good faith and ought to be struck out.

    “Once more, this court needs to apply the test of reasonableness of the act of the respondent in initiating the proceeding leading to the interim forfeiture order. I have done so and found this applicant ex-parte wanting in that respect.

    “Consequently, I make the following orders:

    “An order is hereby made setting aside the interim forfeiture order of the properties of Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his companies made by this court on 4th day of November, 2022, upon the ex-parte Originating Motion filed by the Economic and Finance Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 27 July, 2022.

    ” The entire proceeding initiated by the respondent is hereby set aside.”

  • Kyari denies ownership of estate, shopping mall, polo field

    Kyari denies ownership of estate, shopping mall, polo field

    Embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, on Monday, spoke on the allegation by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) that he owns some assets ranging from polo playground, lands, farmland, shopping mall, residential estate across the country.

    Kyari debunked the allegation saying that he doesn’t own those properties linked to him by NDLEA.

    Kyari who spoke through his legal adviser, , Hamza Tani on Monday said the allegation was cooked up by NDLEA to further compound his woes.

    According to him, the agency resorted to cheap blackmail because “NDLEA’s case in court against Abba Kyari and four others is not going well for them.”

    Meanwhile, Kyari  has  released the details of the money in his account.

    They are N2.8 million in his UBA account, the only account he has been using for the past eight years; 7,000 pounds in GTB kept over eight years ago and N350,000 in GTB kept many years ago.

    Others were N200,000 in Sterling Bank and Access Bank account not in use for over eight years.

    His lawyer said, “They expected the court case to go smoothly in their favour the way their sponsored media trials went viral between February and April 2022. They failed to understand that unlike media trials, courts need real evidence and facts which NDLEA don’t have in this case.

    “By all means, out of desperation, again, NDLEA wanted to spoil Abba Kyari’s name at all cost because they know that all their initial efforts have failed as overwhelming majority of good Nigerians who want peace and security for the nation are still behind Abba Kyari despite the set-up by NDLEA against Abba Kyari in January 2022, which was followed by massive sponsored media trial earlier this year.

    “Again, NDLEA is sponsoring fabricated lies, untrue stories, and flimsy allegations, trumped-up and false charges in court without justification against Abba kyari.”

    He recalled that on August 29, 2022, Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a suit filed by the Attorney-General of Federation to extradite Abba Kyari to the United States of America.

    “On August 30, the NDLEA filed another 24 Count charges against DCP Abba Kyari just to mislead the general public and tarnish his image despite the same matter being before Federal High Court in Maiduguri and without any evidence linking Abba Kyari to any of those properties or any link to any drug money, stealing government money or any proceed of any crime,” Tani said.

    Tani further explained that NDLEA was up to a mischief, adding that the allegations linking his clint to those properties were thoughtless, baseless and misleading the general public.

     

    Tani’s statement partly reads, “The businessmen who own those properties and gave their documents have already filed their cases against NDLEA in Federal High Court Maiduguri. The NDLEA without any evidence went and marked innocent people’s properties in Maiduguri and Abuja in April 2022 and released the news to the media which went viral April 2022.

    “These whole properties matter is before Federal High Court in Maiduguri but NDLEA is still desperate by trying to link Abba Kyari without any evidence to financial crimes and properties that do not belong to him, neither is there one kobo of drug money or any crime money that is linked to Abba Kyari in any way.

  • Bill to give widows access to their late husband’s properties passes second reading

    Bill to give widows access to their late husband’s properties passes second reading

    A bill to give widows access to their late husband’s property, stop rape, forced marriages and other evil customary practices has passed second reading at the House of Representatives.

    Rep. Sergius Ogun (PDP-Edo), sponsored the bill entitled: “An Act to amend the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, which was read on the floor of the House on Thursday in Abuja.

    He stated that the bill would prohibit discrimination against widows and all forms of repressive and degrading widowhood practices.

    “The bill will make provision for the definition of the offence of image-based sexual abuse under the Act and also make provision for penalty for offence of image-based sexual abuse.”

    Ogun said the bill specifically called for amendment to 6 sections of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015.

    Leading the debate, Ogun decried inhuman treatment being meted to some widows.

    According to him, this bill proposes to amend six sections of the violent against persons act to make provisions to safeguard widows from violent and evil customary practices.

    Others included denial of property rights, rape, forced marriages and all other dehumanising acts that undermined the dignity of the widow.

    “The amendment(s) are geared toward achieving the following: Define what constitutes harmful and degrading widowhood practices; define what constitutes the rights of widows under the Act.

    “Prescribe penalties for infractions against the Act; preserving the 23rd day of May of every year as a National Day for the prohibition of discrimination against widows, women and girls.

    “This is to bring the problem of discrimination against widows to national attention; saddle the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) with the responsibility.

    This according to him is with the responsibility of administering the provisions of this bill and organising events to commemorate the national day for the prohibition of such discrimination.

    He said that, in several parts of Nigeria, widows were made to pay heavy penalties for the painful departure of husbands that they loved and shared their lives with.

    He added that they were usually stigmatised, denied access to property and in some cases, denied access to their own children for reasons that had no place under any Nigerian law.

    “Widowhood is not by choice. Widows are victims of the inevitability of death. So why do our society criminalise the unfortunate incident of widowhood?

    “Why are widows denied the right to mourn in peace, is the trauma of their loss met with more trauma rather than solace?

    He said the house had a duty to right this wrong, adding that mothers, sisters, aunties, friends, colleagues deserved to be protected.

    However, when the bill was put to voice vote, there was an overwhelming support of the members and it was adopted for second reading.

  • Court upholds final forfeiture of ex-NDDC director’s N1.8bn properties to FG

    Court upholds final forfeiture of ex-NDDC director’s N1.8bn properties to FG

    A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, dismissed the application filed by one Francis Momoh and affirmed the final forfeiture of properties worth N1.8bn recovered from a former Executive Director, Projects, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Tuoyo Omatsuli, to the Federal Government.

    Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, had, on Monday, December 10, 2018, ordered the final forfeiture of the properties which include Block 117, Plot 4, Lekki Peninsula Scheme, TPAO 992, Ikate Ancient City, Eti-Osa L.G.A, Lagos, measuring 1804.089Sqm and Plots 1-18, Block 43, TPAO 992, Ikate Ancient City, Lekki Peninsula, Eti-Osa, Lagos, measuring 10,000Sqm.

    Others are Plot 1b, Northern Business District, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, measuring 1000Sqm and Plot 1; Block 25, Lekki Peninsula Residential Scheme 1, Eti-Osa L.G.A, measuring 2989.10Sqm, to the Federal Government.

    Dissatisfied with the Order, Momoh had approached the appellate court seeking to set aside the order of the court.

    But in a judgment read by Justice Daniel Kalio, the appellate court held that Momoh did not place any material before the court “to enable it to disturb the findings of the lower court”.

    The appellate court also held that Momoh’s appeal lacked merit and was accordingly dismissed.

    “The judgment of the lower court is affirmed,” it further held.

    Counsel to the EFCC, Ekene Iheanacho, while moving ex parte application for the interim forfeiture of the properties had referred to paragraph four of the affidavit, detailing how a contractor with the NDDC, Starline Consultancy Services Limited, was paid the sum of N10, 218, 019, 060.59) (Ten Billion, Two Hundred and Eighteen Million, Nineteen Thousand and Sixty Naira) as consultancy fee for levies collected from oil-producing companies in the Niger Delta region.

    It was further stated that out of the money paid to Starline, a sum of N3, 645, 000. 00 (Three Billion, Six Hundred, and Forty-Five Thousand Naira) was paid as a kickback to Omatsuli through a company named Building Associates Limited.

    “Some of the funds were used by Building Associates to buy properties in the name of a company, Don Parker Properties Limited, where Omatsuli had majority shareholding,” Iheanacho had further told the court.

    Iheanacho had also told the court that Momoh, whom he described as the majority shareholder in Building Associates Limited, was introduced as a shareholder in Don Parker Properties Limited so as to disguise the nature of the crime.

    After hearing the submissions, Justice Obiozor, had granted all the reliefs sought by the applicant and ordered the interim forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government.

    The Judge had further directed the Commission to publish the Order in any national newspaper within 14 days, notifying the respondents or anyone interested in the properties to appear before the court and show cause why the properties should not be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    The applicant, in compliance with the court’s order, had published the interim forfeiture order in The Nation Newspaper of May 26, 2018. However, the respondents had, on October 1, 2018, opposed the application, claiming ownership of the properties.

    Delivering his judgment, Justice Obiozor, had held that the properties were acquired through proceeds from kickbacks received by Building Associate Limited operated by Momoh on behalf of Tuoyo; and ruled that the properties be finally forfeited to the Federal Government.

  • Properties worth millions of naira destroyed as fire razes sections of Computer Village

    Properties worth millions of naira destroyed as fire razes sections of Computer Village

    Goods worth millions of naira have been destroyed in a fire that gutted a section of a shopping complex at the popular Computer Village in Ikeja, Lagos.

    The affected building is located at number 18, Otigba Street in the busy hub where mobile phones, laptops, and other gadgets worth millions of naira are sold on a daily basis.

    According to sources, the fire started in the early hours of Monday and lasted a few hours before it was eventually put out.

    Authorities of the Lagos State Police Command have confirmed the incident, although they said they have yet to ascertain the cause of the fire.

    In a statement hours after the fire broke out, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Adekunle Ajisebutu, explained that firefighters raced to the scene as soon as the incident was reported.

    He added that the command, on its part, deployed a team of police operatives from Area ‘F’ Command, Ikeja Division, and neighbouring divisions to the area to protect the firefighters and others involved in the effort to quench the fire, as well as prevent looting.

    “The fire has been put out successfully. No life was lost in the incident. However, valuable properties which estimates are not yet known were destroyed,” said Ajisebutu.

    A shop owner at Computer Village told Channels Television that the affected building houses shops where mobile phones and laptops are sold.

    The fire, he said, began at about 4am and lasted till about 7am while policemen cordoned off the area as firefighters battle the fire.

    He explained that the fire began from an electrical fault in the complex and some swollen batteries, saying that a section of the building was affected.

     

  • Wild fire destroys good, properties worth millions in Rivers

    Wild fire destroys good, properties worth millions in Rivers

    Goods and properties worth millions of naira have been lost to a devastating fire incident in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    The fire, which lasted for over 10 hours since Saturday, began in an old premises of a moribund private company on Isiokpo Street in the D-Line Area of the city.

    While the cause is yet to be known, residents and the Rivers State Government suspect that the abandoned tankers in the premises may have been used by people who trade in illegally refined petroleum products which ignited the fire.

    Although the fire has been put out, men of the Federal Fire Service and the Government have urged residents to be observant and careful to avoid a fresh spark.

  • JUST IN: Court rejects Okorocha’s appeal to stop confiscation of properties

    JUST IN: Court rejects Okorocha’s appeal to stop confiscation of properties

    A court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday declined former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha’s, application to restrain the Imo State Government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from confiscating his properties.

    A State High Court in Owerri had earlier (on Monday) ordered the final and absolute forfeiture of Royal Palm Springs Hotel and other properties said to belong to Senator Okorocha and other members of his family.

    According to a ruling by Justice Fred Njemanze, who was sitting as a vacation judge, Okorocha’s counsel failed to give concrete and verifiable reasons why a final and absolute forfeiture order should not be given in favour of the Imo state government.

    Justice Njemanze added that the suit filed against Imo State Government by Okorocha’s counsel was not properly filed.

    He also described it as a surplusage, a term in law which means a statement completely irrelevant to a matter.

    Justice Njemanze maintained that the White Paper Gazette by the state government is a legal binding document.

    The judge concluded that there was no concrete reason before it for why the forfeiture should not be made absolute and final, hence the state government could go ahead and do whatever it deems fit to do with the properties.

    As for persons who might have made purchases on such properties, Justice Njamanze said they are at liberty to approach the court to prove their titles.

  • Court orders final, absolute forfeiture of properties linked to Okorocha

    Court orders final, absolute forfeiture of properties linked to Okorocha

    A State High Court in Owerri has ordered the final and absolute forfeiture of Royal Palm Springs Hotel and other properties said to belong to Senator Rochas Okorocha and other members of his family.

    The forfeited properties are contained in pages 226 to 272 of the Imo state Government white paper report by a Judicial Commission of Enquiry on Recovery of Lands and other related matters.

    According to the ruling by Justice Fred Njemanze, who was sitting as a vacation judge, Okorocha’s counsel failed to give concrete and verifiable reasons why a final and absolute forfeiture order should not be given in favour of the Imo state government.

    Justice Njemanze added that the suit filed against Imo state Government by Okorocha’s counsel was not properly filed.

    He also described it as a surplusage, a term in lawn which means a useless statement completely irrelevant to a matter.

    Justice Njemanze maintained that the white paper gazette by the Imo state Government is a legal binding document.

    The judge concluded that there was no concrete reason before it why the forfeiture should not be made absolute and final, hence the Imo state Government can go ahead and do whatever it deems fit to do with the properties.

    As for persons who might have made purchase on such properties, Justice Njamanze said they are at liberty to approach the court to prove their titles.

    However, the properties as at today have been returned to the Imo state Government.

    Justice Fred Njamanze had February 26 given an interim order of forfeiture on the properties urging Senator Rochas Okorocha to approach the court to show case as to why a final and absolute order of forfeiture should not be given over the properties following an application brought by Mr Louis Alozie, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, on behalf of the state government.

    This prompted Okorocha’s counsel to file a preliminary injunction to stop the final forfeiture citing forceful eviction and that the suit by the Imo state Government was not properly Instituted.

    Some of the properties forfeited include:

    1. Eastern Palm University, Ogboko
    2. Royal Spring Palm Hotels and Apartments
    3. IBC staff quarters said to have been illegally acquired for the purpose of Rochas Foundation College
    4. Owerri magistrate quarters, Orlu road/cooperative office/Girls Guide allegedly converted to private use housing market square and Kilimanjaro eatery
    5. Public building situated at plot B/2 Otamiri South Extension Layout given to the ministry of women affairs for establishing a skills acquisition centre for women, allegedly acquired for the benefit of Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha’s all-in Mall along Aba road.
    6. Plot P5, Naze residential layout, initially part of primary school management board but now annexed to All-In Mall along Aba Road, belonging to Mrs Nkechi Okorocha
    7. And all the properties contained from pages 226 to 272 of the government white paper on the recommendation of the judicial commission of inquiry into land administration in Imo state from June 2006 to May 2019”.

  • AMCON takes over Buhari’s properties for N600m loan default

    AMCON takes over Buhari’s properties for N600m loan default

    The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) have taken over some assets belonging to senator representing Oyo North Senatorial district on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdulfatai Buhari.

    The agency accused the lawmaker of unwillingness to defray a N600 million loan.

    The corporation said it took the action after securing a court order to sell the assets to recover the loan.

    The unpaid loan was taken by a Buhari-linked company, Abadat Ventures Limited, from a major bank.

    It was classified as a Non-Performing Loan (NPL) and purchased by AMCON from the bank during the second phase of eligible bank asset purchases this year.

    AMCON alleged that Buhari had shown unwillingness to repay the loan, despite the concessions made available to him by the Corporation in a bid to amicably resolve the matter.

    The corporation approached the Federal High Court, to obtain an order to take over assets of Abadat. It was granted by Justice I. E Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja on March 25.

    In compliance with the enforcement order, the corporation went about putting the logistics together and took effective possession of the two properties as listed by the court through its appointed receiver manager – Mr. Baba Mohammed Waziri of Baba Waziri & Co. Chambers.

    The enforced properties include property situate at No 12, St, Petersburg Street, Wuse II, Abuja and Plot 516, (also known as No 2. Marte Close), off Misau Crescent, off Birnin Kebbi Crescent, Garki II, Abuja.

    Besides granting the corporation possession of the seized properties, the court also ordered the receiver-manager to take all necessary steps required to realise the assets of the obligor, with a view to paying the outstanding loan in line with Section 553 and 554 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020.

    Head, Corporate Communications, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Jude Nwauzor, who confirmed that the properties were effectively under AMCON’s possession explained that the enforcement was carried out in a seamless manner, as the court had directed officers and men of the Police, court bailiffs and other security agencies to assist AMCON in securing the assets.

    Nwauzor added that Buhari, as the chief promoter of Abadat and his firm, had remained recalcitrant despite all efforts, negotiations and windows of opportunity provided them by AMCON to enable them to repay the indebtedness.

    According to him, having exhausted all possibilities, AMCON had no other options as a law abiding corporate organisation than to seek judicial intervention.