An Order of Interim Forfeiture of property allegedly belonging
to Bauchi States Governor, Bala Mohammed obtained by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had been upturned.
The EFCC had on 17th May 2016 obtained an order of interim
forfeiture of about 8 properties allegedly belonging to Sen. Bala
Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi state.
However, it was discovered that one of the properties forfeited
by virtue of the Interim Order, a Twin Tower Plaza, located at Wuse
2 actually belonged to Sam’s Engineering Ltd and not Bala
Mohammed.
Justice J.S. Tsoho of the Federal High Court Abuja discharged
and set aside the interim order of forfeiture on grounds that EFCC
had failed to prove that Bala Mohammed was the owner of the
property.
Bright Uche, Counsel to Sam’s Engineering, stated, “Justice
Tsoho granted an Order A) discharging and setting aside the interim
order of forfeiture made on the 17 May 2016 in favor of EFCC
attaching the properties of Sam’s Engineering Ltd mistakenly as
belonging to Sen. Bala Mohammed.
“B) releasing the property/ properties to Sam’s Engineering Ltd,
which is the rightful owner of the said twin tower plaza located in
Wuse Zone 3, Abuja.
“C) and restraining EFCC from disturbing the quiet possession of
Sam’s Engineering Ltd over the twin tower Plaza in Wuse Zone 3,
Abuja.
“Continuing with the ruling, the court ruled that EFCC has not
proved that the property belongs to Sen. Bala Mohammed and that
Sam’s Engineering Ltd has the constitutional right to own
properties anywhere in Nigeria legitimately acquired as in this
case”, Uche stated.
Subscribe ToNairalaw News!
Read more court-upturns-property-forfeiture-linked-to-bala-mohammed/