Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered a temporary forfeiture of 23 properties (see attached documents below) traced to the former chairman of Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina.
The court gave the order today following an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC, in the suit, had urged the court to order the temporary forfeiture of the properties linked to Maina.
It also sought an order of the court to publish an advertisement on the properties in a national daily to enable anyone who has any reason why they should not be finally forfeited to the federal government come forward with proof.
The EFCC supported its motion with a 30-paragraph affidavit which it brought pursuant to Section 17 of the Money Laundering Act.
The ex parte motion, which was moved by Mr. Mohammed Abubakar alleged that the said properties were suspected to have been proceeds of unlawful activities traced to Maina and his associates.
It was brought pursuant to Section 17(1) and (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.
The properties include houses, estates, companies among others located in Abuja, Kaduna, Borno and Nasarawa.
The judge, in her ruling, granted the prayers of the anti-graft agency.
She gave an order directing the publication of the order of interim forfeiture in any national daily newspaper.
