Court gavel
Federal High Court in Abuja has mandated the permanent forfeiture of assets worth N335 million, a hospital, five filling stations, and other properties to the Federal Government.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the ruling following a motion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lawyer, Fadila Yusuf, who sought the final forfeiture of the listed assets. Yusuf confirmed that the EFCC had fully complied with the court’s prior directives.
In his judgment, Justice Nwite deemed the application meritorious, stating, “Having reviewed the counsel’s submissions and supporting affidavits, I find the application well-founded and hereby grant it as requested.”
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the EFCC filed the motion under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. An EFCC official, Tahiru Ahmed, affirmed in an affidavit that the assets, listed in Schedules I and II, were subject to an interim forfeiture order issued on August 13, 2024.
The court had directed the EFCC to publish the interim order in a national daily and on its website, inviting any interested parties to contest the forfeiture. The order was published in Punch newspapers on September 4, 2024, and no claims were made on the assets.
Ahmed argued that granting the final forfeiture would serve justice, as no parties would be prejudiced. The assets, suspected to be proceeds of illegal activities, include:
*Properties*
1. Duplex (No. Bo/12340, Maiduguri, Borno)
2. Residential apartments (Plot No. 12, Equilibrium Estate, Cadastral Zone DO2, Karsana District, Abuja)
3. Plot of land (Plot No. 3, Dakibiyu District, Cadastral Zone B10, Abuja)
4. Plot of land (Plot No. NS 11416, Ado, Karu LGA, Nasarawa)
5. Farmland (50 hectares, Plot No. FL-867, Gaube Farmland Ext 11 Layout)
6. 4.8 hectares of land (along Mal Oke Primary School, Dakwa Town, Tafa LGA, Niger)
7. Plots of land (Plot Nos. YB/9516, PBY/719, PBY/7140, PBY/7141, PBY/7142)
8. Galaxy Hospital (Plot No. Bo/12340, Bolori Layout, Maiduguri, Borno)
9. Private residence (Plot No. 13426, Mararaba Gurku, Karu LGA)
10. Filling station (Chabbal Village, Borno)
11. Petroleum filling station (Km 33-650m, Kaduna-Zaria Express Road, Kaduna)
12. Petroleum filling station (Mogaramti, Maiduguri-Kano Road, Borno)
13. Petroleum filling station (Chabal Village, Konduga LGA, Borno)
14. Petroleum filling station (99, Sir Kashim Ibrahim Road, Maiduguri, Borno)
15. Four-bedroom terrace duplex (No. 36-04, BuildOptions Apartment Phase 36, Plot 1244, Guzape District, Abuja)
16. 10 hectares of land (Proposed filling station, Baga-Maimalari Barrack Road, Maiduguri, Borno)
*Bank Accounts and Balances**
1. Galaxy Transportation and Communication Service Ltd (N281,455,454)
2. Galaxy Computing and Electronics Service Ltd (N6,977,195)
3. Galaxy Energy Int’l Concept Ltd (N1,240,588)
4. Galaxy Transport & Construct Service (Zero balance)
5. Galaxy Intercontinental Miners Concept Ltd (Zero balance)
6. Galaxy Superstores & Pharmacy (Zero balance)
7. Galaxy Transportation & Construction S. (N43,705,469.55)
8. Abba Babagana Dalori (Zero balance)
9. Galaxy Transportation & Construction (Zero balance
)
