Court Orders EFCC To Seize Nora Johnson’s Assets

A Federal High Court, Hon. Justice A. Lewis Allagoa of Lagos
Division, has ordered the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (
EFCC) to take possession of all property owned by Ms Nora
Johnson.

The anti-graft agency had received a petition over some
infractions allegedly committed by Ms. Johnson in her former
office.

It was learnt that Ms. Johnson was accused of over-invoicing on
purchase of vehicles, inflating air ticket fares and more, and the
amount in local and foreign currencies were in excess of N1
billion. This then prompted the interim forfeiture of some
properties and bank accounts on the order of Justice A.M. Liman on
February 16, 2021, following an application on behalf of the
Federal Government of Nigeria by the EFCC.

However, on March 21, 2021, Ms Johnson and the other Respondents
in the suit: Babajide Aremu Johnson, Olabose Ibrahim Falobi, Steve
Nnamdi Izebu, Steve Ibem and Bakoliza Limited, went to court to
suspend or stay execution on Justice Liman’s order.

They had sought an order to discharge the interim order of
forfeiture of assets, an order discharging the final forfeiture,
and any other orders as deemed fit by the court.

In his judgement, after hearing J.O. Adeyemi Counsel for the
Applicant/Respondent and V.C. Nwokafor Counsel for the 1st, 2nd and
6th Respondent/Applicants, Justice Allagoa ordered that the motion
of Ms. Johnson and the other Respondents dated March 12, 2021, is
“hereby set aside”.

The judgement delivered on July 15, 2021 stated further: “That
the order of Justice Liman stands in all its ramifications”, and
“That the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are
entitled to take possession of all that property subject of the
Order of my Lord A.M. Liman on 16th day of February, 2021”.

Ms Johnson then released a video which went viral, where she was
seen wailing, gnashing her teeth, and making wild allegations
against her former employers. Those who are aware of this
unfortunate incident, believe that Ms Johnson’s display in the
video was simply a calculated, underhand attempt to blackmail her
former employers and garner sympathy for herself in the court of
public opinion, on account of her melodramatic display which was
nothing more than a last ditch attempt to escape liability, and
prevent the Federal Government from taking possession of her assets
purportedly acquired from the proceeds of fraud perpetrated against
her former office, as was ordered by the court.

EFCC sources say her fellow conspirators have refunded over N400
million of the money allegedly misappropriated, proof of a prima
facie case against her.

Discerning members of the public are therefore, wondering why
she won’t prove her innocence in court, if indeed, she believes
there is no case against her, or that she is being witch-hunted.
However, Ms Nora Johnson has since recanted that she and
co-conspirators, have repaid some funds.

The EFCC has confirmed that N507 million has been recovered from
Ms Johnson and her co-conspirators, the Sierra Leonean woman
involved in the case of the Billion Naira fraud against her former
employers. It was gathered that while Ms Johnson refunded N100m on
account of her involvement in the fraud to the EFCC, some of her
co-conspirators in the years-long racket refunded N400 million,
while another accused person refunded N7 million on behalf of Ms
Johnson. According to the EFCC source, she reneged on paying the
expected balance, which led to her present predicament.

A Federal High Court, Hon. Justice A. Lewis Allagoa of Lagos
Division, has ordered the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (
EFCC) to take possession of all property owned by Ms Nora
Johnson.

The anti-graft agency had received a petition over some
infractions allegedly committed by Ms. Johnson in her former
office.

It was learnt that Ms. Johnson was accused of over-invoicing on
purchase of vehicles, inflating air ticket fares and more, and the
amount in local and foreign currencies were in excess of N1
billion. This then prompted the interim forfeiture of some
properties and bank accounts on the order of Justice A.M. Liman on
February 16, 2021, following an application on behalf of the
Federal Government of Nigeria by the EFCC.

However, on March 21, 2021, Ms Johnson and the other Respondents
in the suit: Babajide Aremu Johnson, Olabose Ibrahim Falobi, Steve
Nnamdi Izebu, Steve Ibem and Bakoliza Limited, went to court to
suspend or stay execution on Justice Liman’s order.

They had sought an order to discharge the interim order of
forfeiture of assets, an order discharging the final forfeiture,
and any other orders as deemed fit by the court.

In his judgement, after hearing J.O. Adeyemi Counsel for the
Applicant/Respondent and V.C. Nwokafor Counsel for the 1st, 2nd and
6th Respondent/Applicants, Justice Allagoa ordered that the motion
of Ms. Johnson and the other Respondents dated March 12, 2021, is
“hereby set aside”.

The judgement delivered on July 15, 2021 stated further: “That
the order of Justice Liman stands in all its ramifications”, and
“That the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are
entitled to take possession of all that property subject of the
Order of my Lord A.M. Liman on 16th day of February, 2021”.

Ms Johnson then released a video which went viral, where she was
seen wailing, gnashing her teeth, and making wild allegations
against her former employers. Those who are aware of this
unfortunate incident, believe that Ms Johnson’s display in the
video was simply a calculated, underhand attempt to blackmail her
former employers and garner sympathy for herself in the court of
public opinion, on account of her melodramatic display which was
nothing more than a last ditch attempt to escape liability, and
prevent the Federal Government from taking possession of her assets
purportedly acquired from the proceeds of fraud perpetrated against
her former office, as was ordered by the court.

EFCC sources say her fellow conspirators have refunded over N400
million of the money allegedly misappropriated, proof of a prima
facie case against her.

Discerning members of the public are therefore, wondering why
she won’t prove her innocence in court, if indeed, she believes
there is no case against her, or that she is being witch-hunted.
However, Ms Nora Johnson has since recanted that she and
co-conspirators, have repaid some funds.

The EFCC has confirmed that N507 million has been recovered from
Ms Johnson and her co-conspirators, the Sierra Leonean woman
involved in the case of the Billion Naira fraud against her former
employers. It was gathered that while Ms Johnson refunded N100m on
account of her involvement in the fraud to the EFCC, some of her
co-conspirators in the years-long racket refunded N400 million,
while another accused person refunded N7 million on behalf of Ms
Johnson. According to the EFCC source, she reneged on paying the
expected balance, which led to her present predicament.