A former governor of Niger state, Babangida Aliyu, following an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been ordered by a Federal High Court to forfeit some of his properties temporarily to the federal government. The assets include houses, cars, and the sum of N57 million.
The Federal High Court in Minna has ordered the temporary forfeiture of some assets belonging to Babangida Aliyu, a former governor of Niger state.
Punch on Tuesday, July 9, obtained the certified true copy of the court’s order made on Wednesday, June 27.
READ ALSO: Federal govt should do more to address killings in Nigeria - CAN
The court order revealed that the assets to be forfeited included two duplex houses in the state capital, a farmland with 12 chalets and four resort buildings at Birgi Minna, and the sum of N57m, all of which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged were linked to proceeds of crimes the former governor was being accused of.
The presiding judge, Justice Yellim Bogoro, following an application filed by the EFCC, ruled that the assets would remain temporarily in the custody of the federal government until after the trial of Aliyu and his co-defendant, Umar Nasko.
The suspects were prosecuted before the judge by the EFCC on charges of conspiracy and diversion of over N1 billion ecological funds said to have been received from the federal government by the state in 2014.
After hearing Ben Ikani, the counsel to the EFCC, who moved the application for the interim forfeiture of Aliyu’s assets, on Wednesday, June 27, Justice Bogoro made among others, an order “granting the chairman of the commission (EFCC) or any officer authorised by him for the interim forfeiture of two duplexes along Peter Saki Street, Minna, Niger State, belonging to Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, a former governor of Niger State, pending the hearing and determination of this criminal suit instituted against him in charge number, FHC/ABJ/CR/71/2017.”
Bogoro also made a related order for the “interim forfeiture of a farmland containing a 12-room chalet and four resort buildings located at Birgi Minna, Niger State, belonging to Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, a former governor of Niger State.”
Added to this, the judge ordered the “interim forfeiture of one Toyota Prado Jeep, one Lexus and two Toyota Land Cruiser Jeeps” which the former governor, allegedly “acquired with proceeds of unlawful act and diversion of public funds.”
PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet!
She also ordered the “interim forfeiture of the sum of N57m only recovered from Umar Mohammed, the 2nd defendant” and directed that the money be “paid into the commission’s recovery account with the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, NAIJ.com reported that the EFCC on Tuesday, June 26 arraigned a former governor of Niger state and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Babangida Aliyu, in court over alleged corruption.
A single sentence statement from the anti-corruption agency confirmed the arraignment of the former governor. The statement said Aliyu was in court over an alleged N2 billion fraud.
Top 5 the Richest People of Nigeria: The Luxury of Corruption - On NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng
from Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 https://ift.tt/2KPUtfO
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment