The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the temporary forfeiture of N3.5 billion and $67,586.27 in the accounts of the former managing director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam and other accused staff of the agency.
The others are former general manager, procurement, Mr. Olumuyiwa Adegorite; former general manager, finance, Mr. Segun Agbolade; and former acting general manager, information and communication technology, Mr. Bolaniran Akinribido.
The rest are the director of finance, Ms. Clara Aliche; Adegorite’s wife and co-director of Multeng Travels and Tours Limited, Joy; Mr. Abiodun Sessebor; Randville Investment Limited; Multeng Travels and Tours; Delosa Limited; Airsea Delivery Limited; and, Sea Schedule Systems Limited.
Justice Oluremi Oguntoyibo handed down the interim forfeiture order based on an ex-parte originating summons filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a 21- count charge of N2.8 billion fraud against Abdulsalam and other officers.
Although they pleaded not guilty to the charge, Justice Oguntoyibo ruled that the defendants temporarily forfeit a residential building at 5, Sobo Arobiodu Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos; a petrol station on Egbeda-Idimu Road, by Faith Bus Stop; a filling station at Idi-Oro, Mushin; and, a petrol station at Alakuko, the ownership of which EFCC said was yet to be determined.
Among the sums forfeited are N30,08million in Adegorite’s Stanbic IBTC account with number 9302194973; N8.7million and N120 million in Randville Investment’s Stanbic IBTC account (0001427188) and Unity Bank account (0025152223) as well as $42,386.27 in Adegorite’s First City Monument Bank (FCMB) account (numbered 1546629019).
Others are N2.8million in Delosa’s GTBank account; N1.2 billion in Avesta Venture’s Electronics Nigeria Limited’s Zenith Bank account; N985.6 million, N281 million, N681 million and N47 million in different Zenith Bank accounts of Merry Aviation Communication Electrical, among others.
EFCC had applied for an order that the bank accounts of the 12 persons and companies “currently being prosecuted for offences of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretense be temporarily attached and taken over by EFCC” until trial is concluded.
It also prayed for an order that all dealings and transactions on the bank accounts be suspended pending the conclusion of prosecution of the alleged offences against them.
