Court orders final forfeiture of Army General's N426.7m

JUSTICE Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos,has ordered the final forfeiture of the sum of N426.7million belonging to John Onimisi Ozigi a retired Brigadier General) to the Federal Government.

A statement by Dele Oyewale, Head, Media and Publicity at the EFCC explained that the he Judge had earlier ordered the interim forfeiture of the money following an exparte application filed by the Commission, EFCC.

Oyewale added that Diamond Head Ventures and Dev. Company Ltd were also joined as respondents in the case.

The Judge, while granting the forfeiture order, directed interested parties to show cause why the sum of money should not be permanently forfeited to the government.

The Commission, in an affidavit deposed to by one of its operatives, Clever Ibrahim, stated that the first respondent, Ozigi, was an officer of the Nigerian Army, while the second respondent, Diamond Head Venture, was a business name owned and incorporated by the first respondent.

The Commission, in the application, also stated that the first respondent, was a salary earner and a public officer with an estimated monthly salary of about N750. 000.

The EFCC, through its lawyer, Nkereuwem Anana, further stated that the money was found in an account opened in the name of the first and second respondents.

Anana, while moving the application for final forfeiture of the money, stated that the first respondent, in his statement to the Commission, indicated willingness to refund the money to the Federal Government, adding that the said statement was attached as exhibit 3.

The EFCC counsel, therefore, urged the court to grant the final forfeiture of the money, saying that “ if made, it will serve the course of justice, as same is sought in good faith and in accordance with the Oaths Act.”

Delivering his judgement on Friday, Justice Hassan granted the motion for final forefeiture as prayed by the Commission.

The Judge held that the respondent failed to satisfy the court with concrete evidence why the money suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.

” The application has met the conditions stipulated in Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Related Offences Act.

“The application is meritorious and it is hereby granted as prayed.”