Court orders Lagos director to forfeit houses, N28.5m

The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the temporary forfeiture of the sum of N28.5m found in the bank accounts of the Director of Accounts, Public Works Corporation, Lagos State, Anifowoshe Alade.

Justice Rilwan Aikawa gave the temporary forfeiture order on Wednesday based on an ex parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Counsel for the anti-graft agency, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the judge that Alade was being investigated for alleged diversion of funds belonging to the Public Works Corporation.

He said the N28.5m was part of a total of N329,469,435 which Alade allegedly diverted from the corporation.

The anti-graft agency claimed that Alade diverted the money into the account of a company, MAJ Anny International Limited, where he is a director.

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

He added that the account director abused his position as “the final authoriser of the Internet banking system of the Public Work Corporation, Lagos State.”

The investigator stated, “The respondent used his office and position to enrich himself with the funds from the Public Works Corporation to acquire landed properties within Lagos and Ogun states.”

He said the commission had recovered the properties.

According to him, the properties include six sets of three-bedroom flats; six sets of two-bedroom flats and six sets of one-bedroom flats 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, 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 was a plot of land at Queen’s Garden Estate, off the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The investigator said, “That the buildings highlighted above are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities purchased with the stolen funds from the Public Works Corporation, Lagos State.

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

“That the order of this court is needed to forfeit these aforementioned buildings to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“That the respondent will not be prejudiced should this application be granted.”

Granting the application on Wednesday, Justice Aikawa held, “I have perused all the processes filed and the submission of learned counsel for the applicant.

“I find merit in the application and same is hereby granted as prayed.

“The applicant, the EFCC, is hereby ordered to publish this order to put any interested party on notice, to come and show cause why these properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria within 14 days from today.

“This case is adjourned till the 16th of January, 2018, for mention.”

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