N323 Million Abandoned In Abuja Apartment Forfeited To FG

Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo Giwa of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, ordered the forfeiture of N323 million abandoned in a Wuse, Abuja apartment to the Federal Government.

The move followed the failure of an erstwhile Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Ibrahim Dandija who owned the apartment where the money was found to come forward to put forward his claim to the money despite repeated invitations.

A statement issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on the matter said that “the ex parte application for the forfeiture was moved by counsel representing the EFCC, Ekele Iheanacho, who asserted that the Commission received intelligence bordering on money laundering  regarding illicit funds  stashed in an apartment, located in Wuse, Abuja. He said that based on the intelligence, the house was searched and a safe was found that contained the money.”

He told the court that investigations revealed that the apartment was secured by a former secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Ibrahim Ahmed Dandija to store his valuables but that all efforts to get him have been futile as he has refused to honour the invitation to explain his connection to the money.

Iheanacho further revealed that one Abdallah Suleiman later came forth to claim the money, stating that he engages in chartering of aircrafts through his company Montes Auri Ltd and that the money was received on behalf of a company. However, according to the EFCC counsel, investigations in the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria,FAAN, by the Commission failed to establish Suleiman’s claim.

Justice Giwa granted the prayer sought by the EFCC and directed that the order be published in a national newspaper for persons with interest in the funds sought to be forfeited to appear before the court to show cause why the final order of the forfeiture of the funds should not be made in favour of the Federal government of Nigeria on December 4, 2019.

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