The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday ordered the final
forfeiture of the sums of N210, 287, 697.45, N5,320,373.40,
N15,008,809.79 and $80.59 belonging to a suspected Internet
fraudster, Dehinbo Reuben, to the Federal Government.
Justice Saliu Saidu had on May 16, 2019 ordered an interim
forfeiture of the sums following an ex-parte application filed by
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The judge also ordered the EFCC to publish the interim
forfeiture order in any national newspaper for the respondent,
Reuben, or anyone who was interested in the sums to show cause why
the money should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal
Government.
At the Tuesday proceedings, the judge, upon hearing the EFCC’s
motion on notice, supporting affidavit and written address, ordered
the final forfeiture of the various sums of money found by the
anti-graft agency in the various accounts of the respondent
domiciled in Guaranty Trust Bank to the Federal Government of
Nigeria.
Reuben, an alleged fraudster who specialised in identity theft,
wire fraud and mail fraud, was arrested following an intelligence
report received by the commission.
Investigation revealed that Reuben and his members obtained the
stolen Personal Identification Information of over 250,000
individuals in the US and used the details to file fraudulent
federal and state tax returns.
It was further revealed that the syndicate obtained monetary
value on the fraudulent tax returns, using prepaid cards registered
with the stolen information and third-party bank accounts.
Subscribe ToNairalaw News!
Read more court-orders-forfeiture-of-fraudsters-n230-6m-80-59-to-fg/