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.
Source:- Brandspurng
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