Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, May 26, 2022, ordered the final forfeiture of some properties belonging to one Obinna Anthony Okonkwo.
Justice Dada had earlier granted an interim forfeiture of the properties, following an ex-parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The properties, which were recovered from the Lagos Port, include a container with no: TCLU A576813 located at 7, Okotie-Eboh Street, Lagos; a container with no: TGHU 8404304 located at 7, Okotie-Eboh Street, Lagos; and a container with no: GESU 600 located at a warehouse on 191, Muyibi Street, Olodi, Apapa, Lagos.
At today’s sitting, counsel for the EFCC, S.O. Daji, who brought the motion for final forfeiture of the items, told the court that the EFCC had complied with the directive of the court, including publishing the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper.
Tendering exhibits to prove the same, he said: “ My lord, after the publication, till now, no one has come forward to lay claim to the items.”
He further told the court that investigation revealed that the owners used fake documents to import the items into the country.
He also told the court that investigation showed that they were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.
“We urge your lordship to grant our application, which is brought pursuant to Section 17 Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006,” he said.
Thereafter, Justice Dada granted the prayers and also ordered the final forfeiture of the items.
The items were also ordered to be sold and the proceeds remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund Account of the Federal Government.
