The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of properties in Abuja and Bayelsa States as well as 30,000 units of MTN shares allegedly linked to a former Commander of the military Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, in the Niger Delta Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe (retd).
The properties, comprising several hectares of land in nine choice locations in both states, were forfeited to the Federal Government.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke made the order on Friday, May 5 following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) theought its counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) in Suit NO:FHC/L/CS/496/2020.
The judge also directed the Applicant to sell the properties and remit the proceeds of sales to the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.
In its application, the EFCC alleged that the assets, found and recovered by it, were reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity.
The land and shares were the subject of an interim forfeiture order granted by Justice Mohammed Liman. But following his transfer, the case file was reassigned to Justice Aneke who made the temporary order permanent.
The properties are “a plot of land described as Plot MF62 Outer Northern Expressway Cadastral Zone 07 05, Municipal Area Counci Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Measuring approximately 13032.10 square metres…
“A plot of land described as Plot No. 1228, Jahi, Abuje File No. OY20027, measuring 2,074,43 square metres…
“Four hectares of land described as Plot No. CP 6356 and Plot No. CP 6387 both within Sabon Lugbe, East Extension Layout along Airport Road, Abuja…
“One hectare of land in Kuje District, Abuja
“50 hectares of land described and known as Plot No. FL7468 Gaube Farmland Extension I Layout Kuje, Abuja.
“A piece of land located at Commercial Layout, Yenagoa Gardens, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
“30,000 MTN SHARES (MTN LINK UNIT) in possession of StanbicIBTC Asset Management Limited.
“One hectare of land in Kuje District, Abuja.
“Plot No. CP 10. Sector Centre D Layout, Kuje, Abuja.”
Source: The Nation
