The Federal High Court in Ikoyi,
Lagos has forfeited Flat 7b, in Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, to the Federal
Government of Nigeria.
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) had on April 12, 2017 found (now forfeited) $43,449,947,
£27,800 and N23, 218,000 (about N13bn) in the apartment.
Sacked National Intelligence
Agency (NIA) boss, Ayodele Oke, had claimed the sums were stashed for a highly
coveted NIA operation.
EFCC later traced the ownership
of the flat to Mrs. Folashade Oke, his wife.
But Union Bank Plc step into the
matter claiming that the property was mortgaged to Union Bank in exchange for a
loan.
Chief Ajibola Aribisala (SAN),
who represented the bank, said the bank sold the flat to Chobe Ventures, a
company owned by Mr. Oke’s wife, with an agreement that the flat owner would
observe several “covenants”, including payment of service charges, land use
charge and levies.
Adding that granting the
permanently forfeiting the apartment to the government would prevent it from
enforcing the terms of the agreement on which the flat sale was based.
Justice Mojisola Olatoregun,
today, however ruled in favor of EFCC and ordered the final forfeiture of the
money to the Federal Government.
In her ruling, Justice Olatoregun
dismissed the objection by Union Bank, which claimed to have interest in the
property.
The judge said she found from the
papers filed before the court, that the bank had already sold the property to
Chobe Ventures Ltd., a company owned by Mrs. Oke.
Justice Olatoregun held, “It
appears to me that the interested party (Union Bank) is a busybody, who is
crying more than the bereaved, having transferred all its rights on the
property, the subject matter of this suit.
“The interested party has no
legal reason to lodge any complaint on the steps being taken by the EFCC on the
property, having divested its interest by the outright sale of the property to
Chobe Ventures.
“I find the interested party’s
motion, seeking to vacate the interim order of forfeiture granted by this court
on November 9, 2017, as unmeritorious and same is struck out.
“From the affidavit evidence
before the court, the applicant (EFCC) has shown clearly that the property
sought to be forfeited was reasonably suspected to have been acquired with the
proceeds of unlawful activities of Mr. and Mrs. Ayodele Oke in the name of
Chobe Ventures.
“The fund belongs to the Federal
Government of Nigeria, which, at the material time, is under the control of
Ambassador Ayodele Oke.
“The respondent, Chobe Ventures
Ltd., refused and neglected to either file any process or appear in court.
“Based on the provisions of
Section 44 (3) (b) of the Constitution and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud
and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006, I hereby order the final
forfeiture of a property described as Flat 7B, situated at No. 16, Osborne
Road, Ikoyi, Lagos and its appurtenances to the Federal Government”.
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