The Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC) on Wednesday secured the final forfeiture of a building belonging to the immediate past Executive Director of Harmony Holdings Limited, Mr Adebayo Sanni.
Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin granted the application filed by the counsel to the EFCC, Sesan Ola, after the respondent failed to show up in court to challenge the proceedings.
While filing the application, Ola prayed the court to grant the request for the forfeiture, saying the respondent acquired the property through illegal means.
”My Lord, we have a motion dated 14th day of January 2020. It was brought pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No 14, 2006, section 44v(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the inherent jurisdiction of this honourable Court.
“Our motion is praying this honourable Court for an order forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the landed property with appurtenances situated at 11, Catchment Road, GRA, Ilorin, Kwara State found and recovered by the Commission from the respondent which is believed to have been acquired through the proceeds of unlawful activity,” Ola said.
The counsel urged the court to look at the merit of application and all the exhibits attached.
The applicant, in a thirty-five paragraphs affidavit deposed to by one Denis Nnachi, an investigative officer with the EFCC, said: ” Investigations revealed that the Ex Kwara Executive Director used fraudulently sold five plots of land belonging to the Kwara State Government in Galadimawa area of Abuja and used it to construct the building in question.
“The Respondent used his position as Executive Director of Harmony Holdings Limited to influence the award of Contracts to several companies where he had interest.
“It was discovered that the property known as 11, Catchment Road , GRA, Ilorin, was constructed and developed using proceeds of unlawful activity.”
Ruling on the matter, Justice Oyinloye said: “I have seen the hearing notice duly served on the defendant. It is clear evidence before me that the respondent was duly served with the hearing notice of this proceedings, the respondent did not file any paper to challenge the legality of this proceedings or claim ownership of the property in question.
“I accept, believe and rely on all the thirty-five paragraphs affidavit filed by the applicant, though the application was not challenged but I consider it meritorious. The property is hereby forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”