By Elohor Igbru
What could be more ironic for Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello after a federal high court sitting in Lagos today ordered the interim forfeiture of 14 properties allegedly linked to the Kogi state government as the governor was at the supreme court allegedly fighting for the masses.
The 14 properties are said to be located in Lagos, Abuja, and the United Arab Emirates.
Nicholas Oweibo, the judge, granted the order on Wednesday following an ex parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Rotimi Oyedepo, EFCC counsel, told the court that the properties, including the one in the world’s tallest building Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE, were “reasonably suspected to have been derived from unlawful activity”.
He also asked the court to order the forfeiture of N400 million, which he said was reasonably suspected to have been derived from unlawful activity.
The amount was said to have been “intended to be used for the acquisition of Plot No. 1224 Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos”.
The N400 million was said to have been recovered from one Aminu Falala.
In his ruling, the judge granted the application and directed the commission to publish the interim order within 14 days for any interested party to show cause why the forfeiture order should not be made in favour of the federal government. The case was adjourned till March 28, 2023.
