Justice Olukayode Ariwoola Junior of the Federal High Court, in Ilorin, on Tuesday, ordered the final forfeiture of a truck and its consignment of assorted solid minerals, arrested in Kwara to the federal government.
Justice Ariwoola while delivering ruling on the application filed by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said the agency has convinced the court as to why the consignment in truck should be forfeited to the federal government.
In moving the application, the prosecuting EFCC lawyer, Sesan Ola said, “My lord, our application is seeking a final order of this Honourable Court, forfeiting to the federal government of Nigeria the truck with registration number, PKA216YR with minerals contained therein, which came into possession of the operatives of the applicant as unclaimed property.”
The EFCC lawyer said that the commission relied on the provisions of Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, No. 14, 2006 and Section 44(2) B of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In a 17 paragraphs affidavit in support of the motion, which was deposed to by Jesse Chong, an operative of the EFCC, he revealed that “Sometime in June, 2024, the applicant gathered intelligence to the effect that some individuals were involved in illegal mining, purchase and possession of solid minerals within Kwara State.”
He further revealed that the owner of the truck and 30 tons of solid minerals contained therein have refused to show up for investigation even after the interim order granted by the court was advertised on Leadership Newspaper.
In his ruling, Justice Ariwoola said the commission has provided sufficient reasons for the said truck to be forfeited and granted the application of the Commission as prayed.
