Court orders final forfeiture of N775m, properties linked to former Accountant General

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday ordered the final forfeiture of N775 million and three properties linked to former Accountant General of the Federation, Jonah Otunla, and Colonel Bello Fadile, aide to former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki.

The Head of Media of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement on Monday, disclosed that the money and properties are a product of illicit activities of the duo.

The properties were identified to be located at No. 8 Ajay Crowther Street, Asokoro, Abuja; a Plot of land at Plot 1960 Cadastral Zone A05 Maitama District, FCT, Abuja; a hotel which is under construction with generating set, located at Plot 621, Road 37, Gwarimpa, FCT, Abuja and a twin 4-bedroom duplex with guard quarters located at Plot 736, 7th Avenue Gwarimpa, FCT, Abuja.

The statement indicated that counsel to the EFCC, Christopher Mshelia, moved a motion for the final forfeiture of the assets in court on Monday. He informed the court that the assets recovered by the anti-graft agency in the course of investigating contract fraud in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under Sambo Dasuki, were proceeds of the unlawful activities of Colonel Fadile and Otunla.

The EFCC stated that the N775 million was refunded by Otunla and Otunba Ade Adelakun (late) during the investigation, whilst the landed properties sought to be forfeited are “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of an unlawful activity received, retained, concealed and converted by the respondents from the office of the National Security Adviser to the President.”

The presiding Judge, Justice Donatus Okorowo, in granting the final forfeiture, held that the court was satisfied with the evidence before it and ordered the final forfeiture of the assets to the Federal Government of Nigeria.