- A director of accounts in Lagos state ministry of Public Works Corporation has temporary lost several houses and the sum of N28.5m to the FG
- Anifowoshe Alade was accused of his position and his own private company’s account to divert public funds meant for Public Work Corporation
- Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi gave the forfeiture order
- Some of the houses are: Six flats of three- bedroom, six flats of two- bedroom and six flats of one- bedroom at Adewale Osiyeku street, Offin-Ile Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos state
The Federal High Court in Lagos has on Thursday, December 7, ordered temporary forfeiture of the sum of N28, 500, 000 (Twenty-eight Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) and several houses allegedly belonging to Anifowoshe Alade, a director of accounts in Lagos state ministry of Public Works Corporation.
Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi gave the order following an ex-parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The anti graft agency in an affidavit in support of the application deposed to by Zayyanu Halliru, an investigator stated that the respondent, Alade, while holding the position of director of finance, incorporated a company called MAJ Anny International Limited.
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The EFCC stated that Alade used his position and his company’s account to divert public funds meant for Public Work Corporation, Lagos state.
The EFCC in the affidavit also said: "I know, as a fact, that we traced to the respondent the sum of N106, 095,960.00 (One Hundred and Six Million, Ninety Five Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty Naira) which sums he fraudulently stole from Public Works Corporation, Lagos State to his personal account No. 0015893001 domiciled in Guaranty Trust Bank and converted same to his personal use.
"I know as a fact that we traced to the respondent the sum of N223,373,475.00 (Two Hundred and Twenty Three Million, Three Hundred and Seventy Three Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy Five Naira) which sums he fraudulently stole from Public Works Corporation, Lagos State to Maj Anny International Limited, being his company account domicile in Zenith Bank.”
It was further stated that the sum of N28, 500, 000 had so far been recovered from the respondent.
Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the EFCC said the money as well as the properties sought to be attached were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
“They are stolen, diverted and retained by him from the Lagos state Public Works Corporation,” he said.
The judge in his ruling subsequently ordered the temporary forfeiture of the money as well as the properties.
The forfeited property are: Six flats of three- bedroom, six flats of two- bedroom and six flats of one- bedroom at Adewale Osiyeku street, Offin-Ile Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos state.
Others are: Four flats of three- bedroom duplex at 6, Tunde Gabby close, Dopemu area, Pako bus stop Agege, Lagos state; one plot of land at Queen’s garden estate, off Lagos-Ibadan expressway; a semi-detached three-bedroom flat and one unit of three- bedroom terrance at Cranbel Court, Citiview estate Arepo, Ogun state
The justice Aikawa also directed the EFCC to notify the respondent to appear before the court within 14 days to explain why the property should not be permanently forfeited to the FG.
The judge also directed the Commission to publish the order in a national newspaper.
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that the Federal High Court, Lagos division on Tuesday, December 5 granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) temporary forfeiture of two properties allegedly belonging to the former petroleum minister Alison-Madueke.
This latest judgment came months after the federal government was granted permanent forfeiture of multi-billion naira properties and funds allegedly embezzled by the former petroleum minister.
Watch as EFCC traces these properties to Diezani Alison-Madueke- on NAIJ.com TV:
Source: Naija.ng