A former Minister of Power has lost another property to the Federal Government after the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the permanent forfeiture of a luxury apartment linked to proceeds of corruption, while placing four other properties under interim forfeiture.
Justice James Omotosho granted the orders in favour of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ruling that Walijam Apartments located on Lobito Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, was acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities established during the former minister’s criminal trial. The court also issued interim forfeiture orders for four other properties, including Bloom Luxury Suites Nigeria Limited in Kaduna State, two mansions on Misratah Street in Wuse 2, Abuja, and A.U.A Plaza on Kade Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.
Justice Omotosho held that although the EFCC had not yet conclusively established ownership or beneficial interest in the four properties, the commission had presented sufficient grounds for interim forfeiture. He ordered the anti-graft agency to publish the order in a national newspaper within seven days to allow any interested party to challenge the forfeiture before it becomes permanent.
The judge rejected the argument by the former minister’s counsel that the court lacked jurisdiction after delivering judgment in the criminal case. He held that Section 321 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act empowers the court to make restitution and forfeiture orders even after conviction.
The EFCC told the court that the former minister was found to have diverted N22 billion out of the N33.8 billion involved in the case and that less than N2 billion had so far been recovered despite previous forfeiture orders. The commission argued that the additional properties were necessary to recover part of the outstanding proceeds of crime.
The latest ruling follows the court’s judgment delivered on May 7, which convicted the former minister on 12 counts of money laundering involving funds meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Projects.
Justice Omotosho sentenced him to a cumulative 75-year prison term after finding that he diverted at least N22 billion through proxy companies and associates. The court also ordered him to refund the outstanding balance of the stolen funds after deducting recovered assets and directed security agencies, including INTERPOL, to arrest him wherever found.
The judge described the diversion of funds meant for critical electricity projects as a grave abuse of public trust, noting that the former minister enriched himself while millions of Nigerians continued to face poor electricity supply.
Following weeks of surveillance, the EFCC arrested the former minister after his conviction and transferred him to a correctional facility to begin serving his sentence. EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede said the commission remained committed to ensuring he serves his jail term, while the former minister is also facing a separate criminal trial over an alleged N31 billion fraud.
