A Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the final forfeiture of the sum of $3.72million found in the account of a company, Enerbett International Ltd., to the Federal Government.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke gave the forfeiture order on Thursday, following an ex-parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
TheIdeal recalls that the judge had on June 18 ordered the interim forfeiture of the dollars and also directed anyone with lawful interest in the money to show cause why it should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government.
Justice Aneke further directed that interim forfeiture order should be published in one of the national newspapers in Nigeria.
In an affidavit in support of the application, lawyer to the EFCC, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the sum was part of credit inflows of $8.7million received by the firm and reasonably suspected to be proceeds of an unlawful activity.
Oyedepo also told the court that the sums were surreptitiously transferred to conceal and retain in the account No.4694976024 opened in the name of Enerbett International Ltd domiciled in First City Monument Bank Plc.
He further told the court that the sum of $4.64million had already been dissipated by suspects in the suit marked FHC/L/CS/586/2021.
The EFCC’s lawyer further told the court that, “As at 31st day of May, 2021, the said account had witnessed credit inflows to the tune of $8.37million which sums are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.
“That before the intelligence was received and acted upon by the Commission, the company and its cronies had dissipated the total sum of $4.64million, leaving a balance of $3.72million.
“That as of 31st day of May, 2021, the balance standing to the credit of the said account was $3.72million.”
In his ruling on the EFCC’s application for the final forfeiture of $3.72million, Justice Aneke held that the application was “meritorious and ought to be granted.
The judge also held that, “In light of the above reasons, I hereby order the final forfeiture and the same be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
