Tuoyo Omatsuli’s N1.8bn
Tuoyo Omatsuli’s N1.8bn Properties Forfeited by Court
Order
Justice Chuka A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court sitting in
Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, December 10, 2018, ordered the final
forfeiture of a number of properties worth N1.8bn recovered from
the Executive Director, Projects, Niger Delta Development
Commission, NNDC, Tuoyo Omatsuli, to the Federal Government.
The Judge had, on Thursday, May 17, 2018, ordered the interim
forfeiture of the properties, following an ex-parte application
filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The properties are: Block 117, Plot 4, Lekki Peninsula Scheme,
TPAO 992, Ikate Ancient City, Eti-Osa L.G.A, Lagos, measuring
1804.089Sqm and Plots 1-18, Block 43, TPAO 992, Ikate Ancient City,
Lekki Peninsula, Eti-Osa, Lagos, measuring 10,000Sqm.
Others are: Plot 1b, Northern Business District, Lekki Peninsula
Scheme 1, measuring 1000Sqm and Plot 1; Block 25, Lekki Peninsula
Residential Scheme 1, Eti-Osa L.G.A, measuring 2989.10Sqm.
Moving the ex-parte application, counsel to the applicant, Ekene
Iheanacho, had referred to paragraph four of the affidavit,
detailing how a contractor with the NDDC, Starline Consultancy
Services Limited, was paid the sum of N10, 218, 019, 060.59) (Ten
Billion, Two Hundred and Eighteen Million, Nineteen Thousand and
Sixty Naira) as consultancy fee for levies collected from oil
processing companies in the Niger Delta Region.
It was further stated that out of the money paid to Starline, a
sum of N3, 645, 000. 00 (Three Billion, Six Hundred and Forty- five
Thousand Naira) was paid as kickback to Omatsuli through a company
named Building Associates Limited.
“Some of the funds were used by Building Associates to buy
properties in the name of a company, Don Parker Properties Limited,
where Omatsuli had majority shareholding,” Iheanacho had further
told the court.
The applicant also told the court that one Francis Momoh, who is
described as the majority shareholder in Building Associates
Limited, was introduced as a shareholder in Don Parker Properties
Limited so as to disguise the nature of the crime.
After hearing the submissions, Justice Obiozor had granted all
the reliefs sought by the applicant and ordered the interim
forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government.
The Judge had further directed the Commission to publish the
order in any national newspaper within 14 days, notifying the
respondents or anyone interested in the properties to appear before
the court and show cause why the properties should not be forfeited
to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The applicant, in compliance to the court’s order, had published
the interim forfeiture order in The Nation Newspaper of May 26,
2018.
However, the respondents had, on October 1, 2018, opposed the
application, claiming ownership of the properties.
Delivering his judgment today, Justice Obiozor held that the
properties were acquired through proceeds from kickbacks received
by Building Associate Limited operated by Momoh on behalf of
Tuoyo.
The Judge, therefore, ruled that the property should be finally
forfeited to the Federal Government.
Tony Orilade,
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity