Date: 2019-09-25

A Kwara state High Court sitting in Ilorin has ordered the forfeiture of an hotel belonging to a state civil servant to the Federal Government.

Also forfeited to the federal government is a landed property, which comprised three bedroom flats, two wings of 2 bedroom flats and a room and parlour self-contained.

In his judgement, Justice Sikiru Oyinloye said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) had been able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

He stressed that the evidences presented before the court were strong and reliable.

"The interim order of this honourable Court was published in The Nation Newspaper while the Court's Processes were served alongside with the hearing notice to the defendant but despite this, the defendant did not show up to explain why the said properties should not be forfeited to the federal government.

"The evidence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was not controverted or challenged by the defendant or any interested parties to the suit, this honourable Court is of the opinion that the defendant was fully informed about the proceedings, in view of the forgoing, this honourable court hereby ordered that the said properties be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria," Oyinloye ruled.

Earlier, in a motion dated September 8th, 2019, Prosecuting counsel, Nnemeka Omewa urged Justice Oyinloye to grant the prayers of the EFCC.

Part of the prayers includes "an order of this honourable Court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria an unregistered Toyota Camry 2008 model, found, traced and recovered by the Commission from the respondent which property is reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity.

"An order of this honourable Court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria a Gold coloured Parsche Cayanne Vehicle found, traced and recovered by the Commission from the respondent which property is reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity".

Relying on the motion and 13 exhibits attached, Justice Oyinloye also ordered that cars recovered from the respondent be forfeited to the Federal Government.