EFCC secures interim forfeiture of ex-council chief’s property

The Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State on Wednesday ordered the interim forfeiture of a property belonging to one Jonathan Terlumun Akputu, a former council chairman and promoter of a community bank.

A statement issued on Thursday by the Head of Media and Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wilson Uwujaren, said the order followed an ex-parte application filed by the Makurdi Zonal Office of the Commission.

The statement read: “The Commission’s counsel, G. G. Chia-Yakua, in an application, dated October 24, 2019, had prayed the court for “an interim order, forfeiting to the Federal Government the four bedroom duplex known and described as Plot Number 1, Chief Akputu Close, Judges Quarters Makurdi,” as well as “an order directing the publication of a notice in the national newspaper and EFCC website inviting all person/bodies who may have interest in the said property to show cause within 14 days from the date of publication why it should not be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

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Moving the application, Chia-Yakua told the court that the property is reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, corrupt practices and money laundering.

He further told the court presided over by Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon that Akputu, in whose possession the property was found, was under investigation for criminal misappropriation of depositors’ fund, corruption, and money laundering.

He added that there was need to preserve the property as any disposal, conveyance, mortgage, lease, sale or alienation of the said property may render any subsequent final forfeiture order by the court nugatory.

The matter was adjourned till November 20 for further mention.

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