Court Orders Interim Forfeiture of N31m, Four Properties in Lagos

Court

By JUMOKE SANNI

Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on May 8, 2025, ordered the interim forfeiture of the sum of N31,000,000( Thirty One Million Naira only) and four properties linked to one Obiajulu Emeka Emmanuel.

The properties are: a four-bedroom terrace duplex; a three-bedroom terrace duplex; four units of one-bedroom apartments and two units of two bedroom apartments situated in various locations across Lagos State.

The judge gave the order, following a motion ex-parte filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, through its lawyer, C. C.Okezie.

Moving the application for the interim forfeiture order, Okezie told the court that the application was supported by an eight- paragraph affidavit deposed to by Yusuf Hassan, an investigating officer of the EFCC.

She told the court that the properties were reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.

Justice Owoeye, having been fully persuaded with the evidence presented before the court, granted the application as prayed.

The judge also directed the Commission to publish the interim order in any national newspaper to enable any interested person appear before the court and show cause why the funds and property should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.