court
Judiciary
Abuja Civil Servant
court
Judiciary
Abuja Civil Servant Forfeits Cars, Houses over
Corruption
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting in Zuba,
has ordered the final forfeiture of properties worth N124.5 million
illegally acquired by a Principal Accountant in the Finance and
Accounts Department of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Daniel
Obah, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Mr. Obah, who was charged before Justice E. O. Ebong, by the
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission
(ICPC), was accused of fraudulently acquiring a four-bedroom duplex
in Abuja and plots of land in Rivers State.
Counsel to ICPC, John-Paul Okwor, told the court that the
Commission was relying on Section 48 (2) (3) of the Corrupt
Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, which gives it the
power to obtain a ruling of forfeiture seized assets acquired by
individuals through corrupt means.
The Commission had argued before the court that Obah and two
other staff of the Ministry, Poloma Kabiru Nuhu and Mangset Longyl
Dickson allegedly carried out a coordinated fraud within the
Ministry resulting in the withdrawal of N605 million from its 2014
Constituency Projects account with the Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN).
The assets forfeited by Obah which also include a Toyota Camry
car and a 2013 Honda Accord were ascertained to be from the
proceeds of the fraud.
The landed properties: one 4-bedroom duplex at Janew Home, Plot
No.3 Cadastral zone D02, Karsana South District, Abuja, valued at
N60 million and a plot of land at Ohia Ngbakiri, Ozuoba, Port
Harcourt, Rivers State valued at N30 million.
Others include plots of land at Oliopobo, Rumuekini New Layout,
Obio Akpor L.G.A. of Rivers State valued at N18 million, Umuodili
Odubo, Abe Ndoni Community, valued at N16. 5 million and
Livingstone Estate Umuogodo, Igbo- Etche, Obio Akpor L.G.A. Rivers
State.
However, Obah argued for the four-bedroom duplex to be left out
of the properties to be forfeited because according to him, it was
acquired with his legitimate income.
Unfortunately for him, the trial judge dismissed his plea for
failing to convince the court with proof. He therefore ruled that
all the seven properties listed by ICPC be forfeited to the federal
government.
Signed:
Mrs. Rasheedat A. Okoduwa, mni
Spokesperson for the Commission