The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized N20 billion found in 103 bank accounts belonging to the chairman of Mallinson Group Of Companies, Mr. Afam Ukatu.
TheCable reported that spokesman for the agency, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said in an interview with on Thursday that a Post No Debit order was made by the court on all the suspect’s accounts in August 2022.
Recall that NDLEA apprehended Ukatu believed to have been behind the N3 billion Tramadol deal allegedly involving the embattled suspended deputy commissioner of police, Mr. Abba Kyari
His arrest on Wednesday, April 13, according to NDLEA, followed months of surveillance and evasion of arrest.
Ukatu, who is Chairman of Mallinson Group of Companies, was arrested onboard a flight to Abuja at the MM2 Terminal of the Murtala Muhammadu Airport, Ikeja Lagos.
The agency secured an interim seizure of 25 properties belonging to the businessman on August 29.
The agency has also filed 23-count charges against the businessman and his six companies — Fruitroprics Industries Limited, Mallinson and Partners Limited, NISPO Porcelain Company Limited, MBL Multi-links Services Limited, NISPO Oil and Gas Limited and Urban Space Services Limited.
The charge, marked FCT/ABJ/CR/320/2022 and dated August 4, was filed before a federal high court in Abuja.
Among several allegations in the charge sheet, the billionaire was said to have converted N123.8 million, which is considered to be the proceeds of an illegal act and is punishable under sections 15(3) and (4) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act of 2011, using Fruitropics Industries Limited’s United Bank for Africa account no. 1006588563.
He was also accused of using Mallinson and Partners Limited’s UBA account between January 1, 2018, and September 23, 2021, to convert N1.447 billion.
In count four, he was accused of using NISPO Porcelain Company Limited to convert N57, 436,206, proceeds of crime.
The NDLEA said his offences are punishable under the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended).
