A Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos has ordered the temporary
forfeiture of the sum of N11,040,000.00 belonging to the Nigerian
Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Justice Muslim Hassan granted the orders following an ex parte
application made by one, Idris Mohammed, a prosecutor with the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The money, which is suspected to be proceeds of crime and
recovered by the anti-graft agency form a company, Lakewood Garden
Ventures, is said to have been diverted from NIMASA by a Maritime
Guard Commander in the Nigerian Navy, one Captian Ebony Aneke.
The EFCC also secured an order of interim forfeiture of a
three-bedroom terrace duplex located at Lekki Gardens Estate Phase
IV, said to belong to another Maritime Guard Commander in the
Nigerian Navy, One Captian Olotu Morakinyo, and another
five-bedroom duplex also in the Lekki area belonging to Captain
Aneke.
In an affidavit in support of the application, an operative of
the EFCC, Idris Adamu, had stated that the commission received
intelligence report for a case of conspiracy, stealing and money
laundering made against the two naval officers who were posted to
NIMASA as maritime guard commanders from September 2011 to
September 2015.
The investigator also stated that a NIMASA Committee of
Antipiracy Logistics opened and maintained a bank account which was
administered by the Maritime Guard Command.
As a guard commander, Captain Morakinyo was said to have
received monies from certain people namely: Yahaya Kanawa –
N3,800,000; Maigai Integrated Limited – N4,650,000; Capital
Providers limited – N8,000,000; and Crescent Pillars Investment
Limited – N18,000,000.
The EFCC also said Morakinyo allegedly received and converted
the total sum of N40,950,000 property of NIMASA, through his
personal account.
He was also said to have converted another N6.5 million meant
for the construction of a Communication Centre for the Maritime
Guard Command,
Morakinyo was alleged to have used the account of his wife,
Rhoda, to launder part of the monies and to acquire the property at
Lekki Gardens.
On the other hand, Captain Aneke was said to have received
monies from Crescent Pillars Investment Limited totalling
N55,905,100, and another N30milion from Seabulk Offshore limited
through his bank accounts.
He was also alleged to have used his share of proceeds to
acquire the five-bedroom duplex in Lekki.
The EFCC said various witnesses who were privy to the
transactions were invited and made voluntary statements to the
anti-graft agency.
According to them, Aneke’s sister, Jumie Aneke, however,
refunded the sum of N11,040,000 which was diverted through Lakewood
Garden Ventures Ltd.
After presenting all his facts before the judge, the EFCC
Prosecutor urged Justice Hassan to grant a temporary order of the
court forfeiting the property and the monies to the Federal
Government.
In his ruling, Justice Hassan granted the order and directed the
anti-graft agency to publish it in any newspaper for the
respondents or anyone who is interested in the properties and the
funds sought to be forfeited to appear before the court to show
cause within 14 days why a final forfeiture should not be made in
favour of the Federal Government.
The case was then adjourned till April 16.
A Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos has ordered the temporary
forfeiture of the sum of N11,040,000.00 belonging to the Nigerian
Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Justice Muslim Hassan granted the orders following an ex parte
application made by one, Idris Mohammed, a prosecutor with the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The money, which is suspected to be proceeds of crime and
recovered by the anti-graft agency form a company, Lakewood Garden
Ventures, is said to have been diverted from NIMASA by a Maritime
Guard Commander in the Nigerian Navy, one Captian Ebony Aneke.
The EFCC also secured an order of interim forfeiture of a
three-bedroom terrace duplex located at Lekki Gardens Estate Phase
IV, said to belong to another Maritime Guard Commander in the
Nigerian Navy, One Captian Olotu Morakinyo, and another
five-bedroom duplex also in the Lekki area belonging to Captain
Aneke.
In an affidavit in support of the application, an operative of
the EFCC, Idris Adamu, had stated that the commission received
intelligence report for a case of conspiracy, stealing and money
laundering made against the two naval officers who were posted to
NIMASA as maritime guard commanders from September 2011 to
September 2015.
The investigator also stated that a NIMASA Committee of
Antipiracy Logistics opened and maintained a bank account which was
administered by the Maritime Guard Command.
As a guard commander, Captain Morakinyo was said to have
received monies from certain people namely: Yahaya Kanawa –
N3,800,000; Maigai Integrated Limited – N4,650,000; Capital
Providers limited – N8,000,000; and Crescent Pillars Investment
Limited – N18,000,000.
The EFCC also said Morakinyo allegedly received and converted
the total sum of N40,950,000 property of NIMASA, through his
personal account.
He was also said to have converted another N6.5 million meant
for the construction of a Communication Centre for the Maritime
Guard Command,
Morakinyo was alleged to have used the account of his wife,
Rhoda, to launder part of the monies and to acquire the property at
Lekki Gardens.
On the other hand, Captain Aneke was said to have received
monies from Crescent Pillars Investment Limited totalling
N55,905,100, and another N30milion from Seabulk Offshore limited
through his bank accounts.
He was also alleged to have used his share of proceeds to
acquire the five-bedroom duplex in Lekki.
The EFCC said various witnesses who were privy to the
transactions were invited and made voluntary statements to the
anti-graft agency.
According to them, Aneke’s sister, Jumie Aneke, however,
refunded the sum of N11,040,000 which was diverted through Lakewood
Garden Ventures Ltd.
After presenting all his facts before the judge, the EFCC
Prosecutor urged Justice Hassan to grant a temporary order of the
court forfeiting the property and the monies to the Federal
Government.
In his ruling, Justice Hassan granted the order and directed the
anti-graft agency to publish it in any newspaper for the
respondents or anyone who is interested in the properties and the
funds sought to be forfeited to appear before the court to show
cause within 14 days why a final forfeiture should not be made in
favour of the Federal Government.
The case was then adjourned till April 16.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/court-orders-forfeiture-of-funds-property-linked-to-nimasa/