306, 294.04 linked to former Zamfara State governor Abdulaziz Abubakar
Yari to the Federal Government.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, who gave the final forfeiture order, said Yari
could not prove how he made the huge sum of money while or before
serving as governor of the state (between May 29, 2011 and May 29,
2019).
The funds were kept in Zenith Bank and Polaris Bank.
Yari and two companies belonging to him (Kayatawa Nig. Ltd and B.T. Oil
and Gas Nig. Ltd.) were indicted for alleged fraud and were dragged to
the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other-Related
Offences Commission.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo, who had granted an interim order on the money on
August 16, 2019, told the respondents to exonerate themselves from the
ICPC allegations.
The money deposited at the two banks were $687,874.81 and about
N24,289,522.89.
Yari’s lawyer U. Kelechi urged the court to set aside the interim order,
claiming that he was rich before becoming the governor of the state.
Ojukwu, however, queried how one of Yari’s company’s bank accounts grew
from zero to a humongous amount at the end of his tenure.
The judge dismissed allegation of a witch-hunt, saying: “The respondents
have not countered the case and facts presented by the applicants. The
respondents having failed to establish the legitimate source of the
money as stated in this case, the honourable court hereby makes an order
of final forfeiture of the following:
“An order of final forfeiture of the sum of 12, 912, 848.68 naira being
proceeds of some unlawful activity stashed in Zenith Bank Plc…in the
name of Abdulazeez Abubakar Yari.
“An order of final forfeiture of the sum of $57, 056.75, being proceeds
of some unlawful activity stashed in Polaris Bank with account number…in
the name of Abdulazeez Abubakar Yari.
“An order of forfeiture of the sum of N11, 159, 674 .17, being proceeds
stashed in Zenith Bank Plc…in the name of Kayatawa Nigeria Limited.
“An order of final forfeiture of the sum of $319, 000.91 being proceed
of some unlawful activity stashed in Zenith Bank Plc…in the name of
Kayatawa Nigeria Limited.
“An order of final forfeiture of the sum of N217, 000.04 being proceeds
of some unlawful activity allegedly stashed in Zenith Bank Plc…in the
name of B.T Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.
“An order of final forfeiture of the sum of $311, 817.15 being proceeds
of some unlawful activity stashed in Zenith Bank Plc… the name of BT.
Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.”