N426.7m belonging to Brig.-Gen. John Onimisi Ozigi(retd.) to the Federal
Government.
The Judge had earlier ordered the interim forfeiture of the money
following an exparte application filed by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Joined as respondents are Diamond Head Ventures and Dev. Company Ltd.
In granting the interim forfeiture order, the Judge directed interested
parties to show cause why the sum of money should not be permanently
forfeited to the government.
The Commission, in an affidavit deposed to by one of its operatives,
Clever Ibrahim, stated that the first respondent, Ozigi, was an officer
of the Nigerian Army, while the second respondent, Diamond Head Venture,
was a business name owned and incorporated by the first respondent.
The Commission, in the application, also stated that the first
respondent, was a salary earner and a public officer with an estimated
monthly salary of about N750. 000.00 (Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand
Naira).
The EFCC, through its lawyer, Nkereuwem Anana, further stated that the
money was found in an account opened in the name of the first and second
respondents.
Anana, while moving the application for final forfeiture of the money,
stated that the first respondent, in his statement to the Commission,
indicated willingness to refund the money to the Federal Government,
adding that the said statement was attached as exhibit 3.
The EFCC counsel, therefore, urged the court to grant the final
forfeiture of the money, saying that ” if made, it will serve the course
of justice, as same is sought in good faith and in accordance with the
Oaths Act.”
Delivering his judgement on Friday, Justice Hassan granted the motion
for final forefeiture as prayed by the Commission.
The Judge held that the respondent failed to satisfy the court with
concrete evidence why the money suspected to be proceeds of unlawful
activities should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.
” The application has met the conditions stipulated in Section 17 of the
Advance Fee Fraud and Related Offences Act.
“The application is meritorious and it is hereby granted as prayed.”