A director, of Accounts, in the Lagos State Ministry of Public Works Corporation, Anifowoshe Muhammed Jamiu Alade,
on Thursday, temporarily forfeited N28.5m and several houses to the Federal Government.
The presiding Judge, Justice Mohammed Idris made the order while granting an Ex-parte application filed before the court by a prosecutor of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo.
According to the EFCC, Alade allegedly used his position as a Director to steal the money from the Lagos State Government.
Justice Idris, also ordered that six flats of three bedroom, another six flats of two bedroom, and six flats of 1 bedroom, located at Adewale Osiyeku Street, Offin-Ile Igbogbo-Ikorodu, Lagos: and four flats of three bedroom duplex, located at 6, Tunde Gabby Close, Dopemu Area Pako Bus Stop Agege, Lagos, belonging to Alade be temporary forfeited to the Federal government of Nigeria.
The court also ordered the temporary forfeiture of a semi-detached three bedroom flat, and one unit of three bedroom terrace at Cranbel Court, Citiview Estate Arepo, Ogun State, and a plot of land situated at Queen’s Garden Estate off Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, to the Federal Government.
Justice Idris, however, ordered the EFCC to publish the order granted in a National newspaper notifying the respondent in whose possession the properties sought to be forfeited are found and recovered to appear before the Court and show cause within 14 days why the properties should not be forfeited to the FG.
The EFCC in an affidavit deposed to by one of its investigators, Zayyanu Halliru, stated that the Respondent is a Director of Accounts under the Ministry of Public Works Corporation, Lagos State, who is also a custodian initiator, first authoriser and final authoriser of the internet banking system of Public Work Corporation, Lagos State.
The deponent averred that the Respondent while as Director of Finance Incorporated a company called Maj Anny International Limited, which he is one of the Directors of the company and sole signatory to the company account, used his position to divert public funds meant for Public Work Corporation, Lagos State.
The deponent further stated that, as a fact, EFCC traced the sum of N106,095,960 million, and the sum of N223,373,475, which he fraudulently stole from Lagos State, and diverted to his company, Maj Anny International Limited. Adding that the respondent used his office and position to enrich himself with the funds from Public works Corporation to acquire landed properties within Lagos and Ogun State which the EFCC has recovered.
The deponent further stated that the respondent used part of the proceeds of the crime allegedly acquire properties worth N37,740,000 million. While the sum of N28,500,000 million, was recovered from him.
The matter has been adjourned till January 16, 2018 for hearing.