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Tag: Properties

  • Return properties forcefully taken from Lagos – Akiolu tells FG

    The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has called on the Federal Government to return all properties belonging to the State, which were forcefully taken over by the Federal Government.

    The monarch urged the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, to use his position as the fourth citizen in the national leadership hierarchy to help Lagos retrieve the said properties.

    Akiolu made the plea when the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led the Speaker on a courtesy visit to the monarch at the weekend with his deputy, Hon. Idris Wase.

    The monarch said he had “valid documents” to lay claims to the properties which he said were taken during the military era. He said some of the property were dated back to 19th century.

    “We have a catalogue of requests from the Federal Government, from special status for the state to the return of all property belonging to Lagos government which were taken away by military fiat. We want the property to be returned to us,” he said.

    The monarch said the State must fight for the retrieval of the properties which include CMS Grammar School and First Bank building on the Lagos Island and harness them for improved service delivery in the state.

    According to him, “I have documents in my possession, which date back as far as 1800s, showing the ownership of all the property from CMS Grammar School to the First Bank building in Lagos. These properties are needed back for the improvement of our people.”

    Earlier while receiving the Speaker at Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Sanwo-Olu described the emergence of Gbajabiamila as Speaker of the House of Representatives as a great feat for the State.

    Sanwo-Olu also expressed joy that a Lagosian had been entrusted with the Speakership of the Lower Chamber of the nation’s National Assembly, which he sees as a major milestone in the annals of the State’s and the nation’s political history.

    “We’re happy that as a Lagosian, you are the Speaker of the House of Representatives in Nigeria. This means a lot to us in the State. But beyond being a Lagosian, we’re happy that Nigeria is blessed with a great personality as her Speaker. We know that you will work for the good of the country,” he said.

    The governor informed the Speaker that Lagos deserved more from the Federal Government and said he hoped that Gbajabiamila would use his office to better the lot of the State.

    Responding, Gbajabiamila described his home coming as very emotional, noting that “it feels really great to be welcomed home by your people”.

    The Speaker noted that Lagos is his home but Nigeria is his seat. He promised to be fair to every Nigerian in his administration of the House of Representatives.

    The Speaker promised better collaboration between the Federal and Lagos State Government, saying so much is expected of Governor Sanwo-Olu to deliver the dividend of democracy.

    “So much is expected of you as much as it is expected of me too. But I know you and I know your pedigree. Chances are that you will surpass those expectations.”

    The Speaker and his deputy were joined during the visits by many members of the green chamber from various regions of the country.

  • Tax evasion: FIRS threatens to take over 30 defaulting companies

    The Federal Government has said it will take over 30 properties linked to companies that have not been paying taxes.

    The Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr Babatunde Fowler, stated that out of the 2,000 properties of corporate entities identified early this year that were not paying taxes, 561 of them had come forward to make payments.

    Fowler said 116 companies claimed not to own any of the properties, adding that 30 of them had actually written to the FIRS that the properties in question did not belong to them.

    He said based on the law, the properties would be taken over by the government.

    He said, “We have certain private organisations that own properties in Nigeria and have not been paying any taxes.

    “So we took a review of all properties and we have about 2,000 that were under corporate ownership and those corporate entities have not paid any tax.

    “By law, where a company has not filed or paid any taxes, we have to use estimated assessment based on turnover.

    “Out of the 2,000, about 569 have come forward to pay taxes. We have done an assessment of N8bn, while the others have asked for payment by instalment.

    “Also, 116 claimed not to own those properties. 30 of them have put it in writing claiming that they do not own the properties in question.

    “We have written accordingly to the Ministry of Finance and we believe that the government will take those properties over in line with the law.”

    He spoke in Abuja during a media briefing with the Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed.

    Also present at the briefing were the Director-General, Debt Management Office, Mrs Patience Oniha; the acting Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms Mary Uduk; the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Alli; and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Mahmoud Dutse.

    The Minister of Finance, Ahmed, said between May 29, 2015, and December this year, the Federal Government had paid over N6.11tn to settle inherited debts and liabilities to states, contractors, and joint venture partners, among others.

    She noted that the inherited debts were paid despite the revenue shortfall experienced by the Federal Government within the last three years.

    Giving a breakdown of the amount paid, the finance minister said that $5.4bn (about N1.65tn) was used to pay state governments for the refund of excess deductions made from the Paris Club debt, while $6.8bn (about N2.07tn) was used to settle Joint Venture Cash Call obligations.

    She also said that contractors/Export Expansion Grants debt totalling N1.9tn had been settled, adding that about N488bn spent by state governments on road projects had also been paid.

    In addition, she said that as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to ensure all pensioners get their entitlements, the ministry had released N54bn to settle outstanding pension arrears in 2014, 2015 and 2016, as well as paid pension claims up to March 2017.

    She also said that over N571m had been paid as gratuity to 175 Biafra war-affected retired police officers.

    In the area of expenditure performance, the finance minister said that in 2018, despite the revenue shortfall, the Federal Government had been able to pay salaries and fully service its debts obligations.

    She said as of December 21, the ministry had released overhead funding for seven months, while N995bn had been released for capital projects

    She expressed optimism that the ministry would perform better during the rest of the budget year by driving revenue generation up to improve the fiscal space for spending.

    To increase revenue, she said the Federal Government would be implementing more public financial management reforms.

    She said, “To take advantage of innovative technologies, we plan to leverage data, technological tools and platforms to foster collaboration, grow the revenue base and improve collections.

    “Given the span of stakeholders that form our port community and for the sake of improving ease of doing business, we plan to deploy a national single window/trade platform that we expect to enhance customs collections to about 90 per cent over a few years.

    “We will also improve collaboration between our revenue collection agencies including the Nigeria Customs Services, the FIRS and other trade partners to share information and intelligence that will help improve revenue and make collections more efficient.

    “Under my tenure as the Finance Minister, I intend to continue championing such digitalisation transformation initiatives that have proven to be a good way forward for our revenue generation drive.”

    When asked about some of the taxes that would be affected by the planned increase in tax rate, the minister said that the government would from next year begin the implementation of taxes on luxury items.

    She said, “We are exploring the way to increase taxes as well as reduce taxes in some sectors. For Small and Medium Enterprises, what will happen is to reduce taxes. But there are some special taxes that we will be looking at imposing.

    “For example, luxury taxes. If you have a private jet, we will be taxing you specially for that. If you have a yacht, we will be charging you for that and also in terms of excise duties, there are also some new areas where excise duties will be introduced.

    “We haven’t got all the approvals but one of the major areas might be that of carbonated drinks produced in the country.”

     

  • Obanikoro reclaims N500m houses, land from EFCC

    A former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, his wife and children have recovered three properties worth about N500m from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    A report published in Punch revealed the properties retrieved by Obanikoro – four terrace houses located at 44 Mamman Kotangora Crescent in the highbrow Katamkpe Extension area of Abuja; a parcel of land in Guzape District and a duplex at Olori Mojisola Onikoyi Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    According to the report, the erstwhile red paint inscription, ‘EFCC, Keep Off!’ had been wiped off on the walls of the afroesaidf buildings.

    Obanikoro, who defected to the All Progressives Congress from the Peoples Democratic Party about a year ago, was under investigation along with his two sons for alleged money laundering.

    The ex-minister was accused of receiving N4.7bn from the Office of the National Security Adviser under the leadership of Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) in 2014.

    About N2.2bn out of the funds was allegedly handed over to the then governorship candidate of the PDP in Ekiti State, Governor Ayodele Fayose, while N1.3bn was said to have been given to the then Osun State governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

    Obanikoro has, however, been converted to a prosecution witness and is expected to testify against Fayose who he allegedly handed part of the money to.

    The ex-minister and his wife, Moroophat, had, in 2016, sued the EFCC for seizing the houses but lost as the court ruled that the EFCC had the right to seize properties of persons under investigation.

    An FCT High Court sitting in Jabi had ordered the forfeiture of her property pending the outcome of investigations into her husband and children.

    The court also rejected a prayer asking that the EFCC pay her the sum of N200m for violating her fundamental human rights.

    Obanikoro’s wife had argued that she bought the property over seven years before the alleged arms scam took place.

    She said the EFCC had no right to punish her for any crime allegedly committed by her husband and urged the court to award her N200m.

    However, in an affidavit deposed to by one Jackson Edet, the EFCC claimed that Obanikoro’s wife could not claim to be ignorant of her husband’s alleged crime.

    The commission said Moroophat’s husband and her sons collected over N600m from the ONSA for a non-existent contract.

    The EFCC argued that investigation had shown that, “the property belongs to Musliu Obanikoro and he paid for the statutory charges for the property.

    “That a lawyer, Tejumola Wasiu Adeboye, who volunteered a statement to the commission, stated that he managed the said property and remits the rent to MOB Integrated Services (a company allegedly owned by Obanikoro which is also under probe).

    In his ruling, Justice Y. Halilu said he could not stop the EFCC from doing its work.

  • Only licenced auctioneers should dispose of govt properties – Group

    Only licenced auctioneers should dispose of govt properties – Group

    …Says there are 5000 registered auctioneers in Nigeria

    The Association of Licences Auctioneers of Nigeria has called for a legal framework to provide that only licenced auctioneers can dispose of government properties in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the federal government MDAs.

    The group made the call in a presentation at the House of Representatives Committee on Commerce public hearing on ‘A Bill for an Act to Establish the Institute of Auctioneers of Nigeria to Provide for Among Other Things the Regulation and Control of Auctioneering and for Other Related Matters’ at the National Assembly on Monday.

    Chairman of the group in Abuja Mr Musa Soba said that licenced auctioneers are only knowledgeable professional body that can determine the real value of any asset, other interests or holdings of government before its sale to the public.

    He informed that there are currently 5000 registered auctioneers practicing auctioneering in Nigeria adding that the auctioneers can fill the wide void existent between the public and private sectors.

    Other invited stakeholders notably the Nigeria Institute of Architects said that the nation is loosing billions of dollars by neglecting the practice of auctioneering which it noted is taking a pride of place in the sale of government assets in other countries.

    Chairman of the Committee Hon Sylvester Ogbaga assured all the stakeholders that the bill when passed into law would provide the needed legal framework for the practice of auctioneering in the country.

    He added that any trade or endeavour that is done without a legal framework is illegal and so is non-existent in accordance with international best practices.

    Earlier, the House Committee had considered and approved A Bill for an Act to Establish the Chattered Institute of Directors of Nigeria to Serve as a Regulatory Body for Persons Serving as Directors in Both the Public and Private Sectors, to Determine the Standard bof Knowledge and Skills to be Attained by Persons Seeking become Directors, to make provision for Continuous Training band Development and for Related Matters’

  • Buhari’s assets recovery panel cannot prosecute, seize properties of suspects – Court rules

    The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has voided the powers of the Presidential Panel on Assets Recovery to prosecute alleged offenders or obtain forfeiture orders for assets belonging to fraud suspects.

    A five-member panel of the appellate court, led by Hussein Muhktar, ruled that the panel is not empowered to approach the court with any application, relating to the prosecution of a suspect investigated by the panel.

    The judgement followed a request by a civil servant, working with the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Tijani Tumsah, whose assets were seized, following a court order. The court order was from a case brought to the high court by the presidential panel.

    In a reaction to the court order, Tumsah approached the appellate court, through his lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

    Ogunwumiju confirmed the judgement on Monday in an interview with Premium Times

    According to the lawyer, the appeal court ruled that the act establishing the presidential panel does not confer prosecutory powers of any kind to the panel.

    “The Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act does not confer any prosecutorial powers on the SPIP.

    “The powers conferred on the SPIP under the Act is limited to investigation and cannot prosecute under the Act or under the EFCC Act or any other Act.

    “The SPIP, upon conclusion of investigation can only submit its report to the President.

    “The SPIP cannot obtain forfeiture orders from any court whatsoever,” the lawyer said of the court ruling.

    Ogunwumiju also said the court’s view of forfeiture orders obtained by the panel is that the presidential panel was usurping the position of the Attorney General of the Federation.

    “The SPIP cannot exercise the powers of the Attorney General of the Federation or the Chairman of the EFCC.

    “The court has inherent powers to set aside an interim order of forfeiture

    “The SPIP cannot act outside its enabling Statute,” Ogunwumiju said in statement highliting the details of Monday’s judgement.

    “Based on this decision of the Court of Appeal, the SPIP can no longer continue seizing properties of public officers, detention of private citizens and filing charges against citizens in court. The powers of the SPIP, according to the court, is now limited to investigation and submission of its report to the President. The SPIP cannot apply for forfeiture of properties or file a charge against any person in court,” Ogunwumiju added.

  • [Photos] Oyo State govt seals off Alao Akala’s properties for allegedly evading tax

    [Photos] Oyo State govt seals off Alao Akala’s properties for allegedly evading tax

    The Oyo State Government on Thursday through officials of the state’s revenue service sealed off some properties belonging to a former governor of the state, Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala.

    The state government sealed the National Horticultural Research Institute, (NIHORT), located at Idi-Ishin area of Ibadan, the state capital for failing to remit its workers Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax to the coffers of the state government.
    It also sealed no fewer than ten other firms during an inter-ministerial enforcement exercise across the capital city.
    Alao-Akala’s property located at Dugbe in the heart of Ibadan, the state capital was also sealed during the raid.
    Chairman, Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue, (OYBIR), Mr. Bicci Alli, while speaking on the raid on Thursday, explained that the affected organisations defaulted in the remittances since 2003.
    Alili said government’s concern was, “To ensure that all taxes, dues and revenues accruable to the coffers of the state government are duly paid”.

    But, Alao-Akala, while reacting insisted that the sealing of his property was politically motivated.
    The former governor in a statement issued on his behalf by Jeremiah Akande, Head, New Media and Public Affairs, Alao-Akala Campaign Organisation, a copy which was obtained by DAILY POST, also urged his supporters to be calm and continue to be law-abiding.

    Alao-Akala said, “Oyo State Government today under the guise of non-compliance with tax payment launched a disguised attack on the person and properties of His Excellency, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala.
    “At about 12.30pm this afternoon, staff of the Oyo Board of Internal Revenue stormed one of the Properties of Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala located at No. 32, Oba Adebimpe Road, Dugbe, Ibadan with policemen and members of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corp and sealed up the property after presenting a letter from the Revenue Board giving one Mrs Oludewa the authority to seal the property.

    “The business complex popularly called Ile Itesiwaju and houses business concerns worth over 3 Billion Naira is presently under lock and key and most of the shop owners and customers locked inside the complex.
    “The general public is hereby put on notice and all lover and supporters of His Excellency, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, are urged to remain peaceful, maintain calm and not to take laws into their hands as it is glaring, this action is political motivated as 2019 is around the corner”

  • We’ll soon publish names of Nigerians who acquired properties with looted funds – FG

    The federal government on Thursday promised to release the names of 200 individuals who own property that was purchased with illegally-acquired funds.

    The Chairman, Special Presidential Investigative Panel for the Recovery of Property, Okoi Obono-Obla, said this at the “Tackling corruption through improving transparency in property ownership” project which was held by ANEEJ in Abuja on Thursday.

    Obla, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecution, also launched ANEEJ’s new online platform ‘Properti Tracka’ which will aid in tracking down these illegal properties.

    He described the platform as being one of the single most important contributions towards the fight against corruption.

    “Anybody who has taken what doesn’t belong to him should return it back to Nigeria or else face being tracked down,” he said.

    “Properti Tracka will expose those who have taken what belongs to the entire Nigerian populace.

    “We will start by making available to the public the 200 names of those who own massive properties in Maitama, Abuja, most of whom are highly placed people in the country, some in the government, some in the past governments.

    “If they cannot explain where they got the money to build such massive properties, they should quietly return it back to the State.”

    Executive Director, ANEEJ, David Ugolor said that the Properti Tracka will help to unveil the owners of these and more properties and find out whether they are actually paying appropriate taxes to the government.

    “The Properti Tracka is a citizen tool to identify these owners of illegally-acquired properties and also to push for clean property in Nigeria.

    “It will also serve to strengthen citizens’ knowledge about using technology to demand for transparency and accountability in the property market in Nigeria.

    “The source of building the property must be from a genuine source. We will be working with the federal government agencies, the tax office, and law enforcement agencies as well.”

  • FG seeks forfeiture of Ekweremadu’s 22 properties in Abuja, Dubai, London, US, others

    The Federal Government has applied to the Federal High Court in Abuja for an order of temporary forfeiture of about 22 properties allegedly owned by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu in Abuja, London, the United States and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    In the ex-parte application filed on yesterday by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIPRPP), Ekweremadu is accused of breaching the Code of Conduct for public officers by allegedly failing to declare about 22 properties in his last assets declaration form.

    The application filed pursuant to Sections 330 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act; 8 of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act and Section 44 (2)(k) of the Constitution, seeks mainly an order for interim forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government.

    The ex-parte application was filed for the SPIPRPP by Festus Keyamo (SAN). It prays the court for an order “temporarily attaching/forfeiting the properties listed in Schedule B hereunder to the Federal Government of Nigeria, pending the conclusion of further inquiry/investigation by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property and/or possible arraignment of the respondent (Ekeremadu)”.

    The grounds relied on by the applicant include that the properties listed in Schedule A hereunder were the properties declared by the Respondent in his Assets Declaration Form at the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

    It stated that investigation/inquiries have revealed that the properties listed in Schedule B also belong to the respondent and so belonged to him when he declared his assets in Schedule A.

    The applicant added that the properties listed in Schedule B were not declared in Ekweremadu’s assets declaration form. It added that preliminary investigation by the applicant reveals that a prima facie case of a breach of code of conduct for public officers had been made out against the respondent.

    But Ekweremadu, in a statement, defended his integrity.

    According to him, there is no asset to forfeit to the government.

    He said the filing of a motion for the recovery of his assets was part of the politics of the 2019 general election.

    He said in the statement by his Media Adviser Uche Anichukwu: “The attention of the Office of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has been drawn to a motion ex-parte filed by Festus Keyamo Chambers on behalf of the so-called Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property for an order to temporarily forfeit assets it claimed the senator did not declare with the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB.

    “Senator Ekweremadu, however, wishes to state unequivocally that he declared all his assets with the Code of Conduct Bureau as required by law.

    “The so-called panel sought and obtained his Assets Declaration Forms, but could not look at them since it is clearly out on a vendetta and smear campaign championed by Mr. Okoi Obono-Obla.

    “This is clearly part of the politics of 2019, and is further exposing those who colluded with the dismissed former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezulike and his cronies to steal and doctor his will.

    “The Senator has, nevertheless, briefed his lawyers and will meet the panel in court.

    “Again, Senator Ekweremadu wishes to assure all his supporters and well-wishers that there is nothing to worry about. “Like others, this too shall pass.”

    Details of the properties are as listed below:

    Those in Abuja
    •No. 11, Evans Enwerem Street, Apo Legislative Quarters, Apo, Abuja.
    •Plot 2633 Kyami, Abuja.
    •Housing Estate (Plot 1106 CRD, Cadastral Zone 07-07, Lugbe, Abuja.
    •Plot 2782 Asokoro Extension, Abuja.
    •Houses at Citi Park Estate, Gwagwalada, Abuja.
    •Plot 1474 Cadastral Zone BD6, Mabushi, Abuja.
    •Congress Court, Abuja.
    •Flat 1, Block D25, Athletics Street, (24th Street) Games Village, Abuja.
    •Plot 66, 64 Crescent, Gwarimpa Estate, Abuja.Plot 1518, Maitama Extension, Abuja undeveloped land (purportedly valued at N10 Million);
    •Plot 2882, Asokoro Extension, Abuja (purportedly valued at N13 Million);


    Those in London
    •Flat 4 Varsity Court, Harmer Street, WIH 4NW, London.
    •52 Ayleston Avenue, NW6 7AB, London.
    In Dubai:
    •Room 1903, The Address Hotel, Downtown Dubai.
    •The Address Boulevard, 3901, Dubai
    •2 Flats of Burij Side Boulevard (the signature), Dubai
    •Emirate Gardens Apartment No. EGG1/1/114, Dubai.
    •Emirate Gardens Apartment No. EGG1/115, Dubai.
    •Apartment No. DFB/12/B 1204, Park Towers, Dubai.
    •Flat 3604, MAG214, Dubai.
    •Villa No 148, Maeen 1, The Lakes Emirates Hills, Dubai.


    Those in USA:
    •4507 Stella Street, Bellavida Estate Kissime, Florida, USA.
    •2747 Club Cortile Circle, Kissime, Florida, USA.
    •2763 Club Cortile Circle, Kissime, Florida, USA


    The Fed Govt added listed the properties declared by Ekweremadu in his assets declaration form of June 5, 2015, as contained in Schedule A to its application to include:


    •5 Bedroom Duplex & Boys Quarters, House A40 Apo Quarters, Apo, Abuja (purportedly acquired with a loan of N13.5 Million from Bank PHB);
    •10 Bedroom House with Guest Chalet & Boy Quarters, 2 Jim Nwobodo Street, Apo, Abuja (purportedly acquired with a mortgage loan of N412, 200, 000.00 from Aso Savings & Loan);
    •7 Bedroom House with Pent House & Boy quarters, Plot 147A Mabushi, Abuja (purportedly valued at N3, 471, 922.1 acquired with salaries & allowances);
    •2 RM Apartment, MAG 214 Dubai (purportedly bought for $ 50,000.00);
    •4 Bedroom Town House, The Lake Dubai (purportedly bought for $20,000.00);
    •4 RM Town House, Florida (he claims he bought this House from a loan of $155,000.00 gotten from PHB)
    •Plots 2 & 10, Republic Layout, Enugu (undeveloped land, purportedly valued at N4 Million);
    •2 RM Apartment, Burjside Boulevard, Dubai, UAE (he claims he bought it for $250,000.00);
    •One Room Apartment, Emirate Garden, Dubai, UAE (He claims he bought it for $60,000.00);
    •Park Tower, Dubai, UAE (He claims he bought it for $250,000.00);
    •3 Room Town House (2), Club Corticle, Orlando, USA (he claims he bought this property for $200,000.00);
    •4 Room House, Plot 1496 AI Thannyah, Fourth, Dubai, UAE (he claims he bought this property for $250,000.00);
    •4 Bedroom Terrace House, Games Village;
    •6 Bedroom Storey House & Boys Quarters, Amachara MPU, Enugu;
    •4 Bedroom House and Boy Quarters, Federal Housing Estate, Enugu;
    •3000 Square Meters of undeveloped land at Amachara, MPU, Enugu;
    •5 Hectares of land, Tutu District, Abuja.
    The government also gave details of Ekweremadu’s investments in and outside the country to include:
    •5, 100,000 – Citi Park Luxury Hotels Ltd (purportedly valued at N350 Million);
    •8, 000, 000 – Prime & Power Media Ltd ((purportedly valued at N30 Million);
    •300,000,000 – Bety Air Ltd ((purportedly valued at N5 Million);
    •40, 000 – Prime & Power Konsult Ltd ((purportedly valued at N42 Million);
    •50,000 – Power Properties Ltd (purportedly valued at N50 Million);
    •70,000 – Spider Construction Ltd (purportedly valued at N35 Million).


    In his assets declaration form on June 1, 2007, Ekweremadu was said to have declared the properties and investments listed below:


    •4 Bedroom Terrace House, Games Village, Abuja
    •A Storey Building at Amachara (MPU) (Country home)
    •A Storey Building & Boy Quarters with Boys Quarters at Federal Housing, Enugu;
    •Apo Legislative Quarters, Apo, Abuja;
    •2644.60 Square meters of undeveloped Land at Asokoro, Abuja;
    •1000.577 Square meters, Kurubuma Layout, Abuja
    •3000 Square meters, Amachara MPU.
    •40, 000 – Prime & Power Konsult Ltd (purportedly valued at N40 Million);
    •50,000 – Prime Properties Ltd (purportedly valued at N50 Million);
    •70,000 – Spider Construction Ltd (purportedly valued at N36 Million)

  • Court orders final forfeiture of Lagos Director’s N28.5m, houses, other properties to FG

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered the final forfeiture to the Federal Government the sum of N28.5 million and other property belonging to Jamiu Anifowose, a Director in the Public Works Department of Lagos State.

    Justice Mohammed Aikawa gave the order while ruling on an application filed by the Economic and Finance Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought against the director.

    The court ordered the forfeiture of the sum for being proceeds of unlawful activities.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that among the property ordered to be forfeited are six flats of three-bedroom, another six flats of two-bedroom and six flats of one-bedroom located at Adewale Osiyeku Street, Offin-Ile in Igbogbo-Ikorodu, Lagos State.

    Others include four flats of three-bedroom duplex located at 6, Tunde Gabby Close in Dopemu area of Lagos.

    Justice Aikawa also ordered a final forfeiture of a semi-detached three-bedroom flat and one unit of three-bedroom terrace at Cranbel Court, Citiview Estate, Arepo in Ogun.

    Also to be forfeited was a plot of land situated at Queen’s Garden Estate, off Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    The judge had earlier granted an interim order forfeiting the money and the properties to the Federal Government.

    Justice Aikawa also directed the Federal government to take administrative step to ensure that both the money and the properties were transferred to the Lagos State Government in view of the affidavit before the court.

    The judge said Section 17 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act empowered the court to grant an order of forfeiture of properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.

    The judge said that the respondent in this case did not file any counter-affidavit to challenge the plaintiff’s averment.

    The judge said he was only represented by a counsel who made oral application asking the court to set aside its earlier order of interim forfeiture.

    Aikawa added that while making his submissions, counsel to the respondent, had said the onus of proof was on the applicant (EFCC).

    On the side of Lagos State Government which filed an application for joinder, the judge said the state filed an application to show cause that the money belonged to it.

    He held that the court had inherent powers to vary its order despite the provisions of Section 17 of Advanced Fee Fraud Act. (NAN)

  • Confusion as FG, LASG lay claim to N28.5m, properties ‘stolen’ by civil servant

    The Federal and Lagos State governments were on Tuesday logged down in a legal tussle over the rightful ownership of N28.5 million and houses allegedly acquired by corrupt means by a civil servant in the state.

    The funds and properties, which are subjects of a forfeiture proceedings, were traced to Alade Anifowoshe, a Director of Accounts in the Lagos State Public Works Corporation, and are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

    Rilwan Aikawa, a judge of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, had on December 7, 2017 ordered temporary forfeiture of the money and properties to the federal government.

    The properties, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, include six flats of three-bedroom apartments, six flats of two-bedroom apartments, and six flats of one-bedroom apartments on Adewale Osiyeku Street, Offin-Ile Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos State.

    Others are four sets of three-bedroom duplexes at No. 6, Tunde Gabby Close, Dopemu Area, Pako Bus Stop, Agege, Lagos State; as well as a semi-detached three bedroom flat and a unit of three-bedroom terrace at Cranbel Court, Citiview Estate Arepo Ogun State.

    Also seized is a plot of land at Queen’s Garden Estate off Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    The EFCC had brought an application seeking the forfeiture of the properties as well as the money traced to Mr. Anifowoshe’s bank account.

    While granting the order of temporary forfeiture, the judge had ordered the EFCC to publish the court’s decision in a national newspaper notifying the respondent whose properties is sought to be forfeited to appear and show cause within 14 days why it should not be done.

    At the hearing on Tuesday, Wole Okenile, counsel to Mr. Anifowoshe, opposed the permanent forfeiture of the houses and the money recovered from his client, contending that the EFCC had not proven that the properties were proceeds of fraud.

    Mr. Okenile said the land which the EFCC is seeking forfeiture was bought for N50,000 by his client in 2000 and invited the Commission to show proof that it was acquired with the proceeds of unlawful activities.

    He also urged the anti-graft agency to actually prove that the properties and money were proceeds of crime instead of “dumping the documents” before the court.

    But while protesting at the forfeiture proceedings, Saheed Quadri, a Director of Civil Litigation at the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, urged the court to forfeit the money and properties to the state government instead of the federal government.

    Mr. Quadri argued that it was the funds of the Lagos State government that were allegedly diverted.

    But Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel for the EFCC, pleaded with the court to forfeit the asset to the federal government, saying Lagos State could always approach them for an agreement.

    After listening to the lawyers, the judge adjourned till January 31 for ruling.

    The EFCC, in its application, accused Mr. Alade of diverting funds from the Lagos State Public Works Corporation into the bank account of a company, MAJ Anny International Limited, where he is a director.

    According to an affidavit filed in support of the ex-parte application, an operative of the EFCC, Zayyanu Halliru, said Mr. Alade is the sole signatory to the company’s account.

    He added that Mr. Alade abused his position as “the final authoriser of the Internet banking system of the Lagos State Public Works Corporation.”

    The investigator said, “The respondent used his office and position to enrich himself with the funds from Lagos State Public Works Corporation to acquire landed properties within Lagos and Ogun states,” adding that the EFCC had recovered the properties.