A Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, has vacated the interim forfeiture order placed on some assets, which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had linked to a former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Director General, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi.
The trial judge in the matter is Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.
The court had on April 3, 2023, ordered the interim forfeiture of property lying and situated at Plot No J37A Close, 2nd Avenue, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos and N725,345,897.77 while granting a motion exparte filed by the EFCC.
The properties were said to belong to a Real Estate firm, Boloboloere Properties & Estates Limited, while the money, N725.345 million, is said to belong to another company, Onyeinteke Global Network.
Justice Ringim had granted the order of the interim forfeiture.
However, the two firms, Boloboloere Properties & Estates Limited and Onyeinteke Global Network Limited, through their lawyer, A. Labi-Lawal, challenged the order.
Labi-Lawal argued the EFCC concealed material fact that Boloboloere had been discharged on all counts bordering on allegations of money laundering brought against it in Charge No: FHC/L/31C/2015: Federal Republic of Nigeria vs. Dr. Parick Apobolokemi and 10 others.
He argued that the EFCC had failed to show or demonstrate how the Boloboloere’s property was purchased from proceeds of unlawful activities.
He urged the court to set aside and/or discharge the interim orders of the court made on April 3, 2023, forfeiting in the interim to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the property lying and situate at Piot J, 37B Close, 2nd Avenue, Banana Island, Ikoyi in Lagos.
He argued that notwithstanding the respondent’s full knowledge of the discharge of the applicant from all criminal liabilities in the charge, the respondent (EFCC) deliberately and to mislead this court, failed and refused to disclose the existence of the decision in Charge No: FHC/L/31C/2015 to this Honourable Court.
