On Wednesday, a Federal High Court in Lagos State ordered the seizure of 14 properties linked to the Kogi State government in Lagos, Abuja, and the United Arab Emirates.
Following an ex parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Justice Nicholas Oweibo granted the interim order.
Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, EFCC counsel, who argued the ex parte motion, told the court that the properties, including one in the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE, were reasonably suspected to have been derived from unlawful activity.
Justice Oweibo also authorized the EFCC to seize N400 million, which was also linked to the state and recovered from one Aminu Falala.
Oyedepo informed the court that the N400m was reasonably suspected to have been derived from unlawful activity “and intended to be used for the acquisition of Plot No. 1224 Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.”
In addition, the judge directed the EFCC to publish the order within 14 days for any interested party to show cause why the forfeiture order should not be made permanent.
More to follow…