Nnamani loses properties to govt

A Federal High court in Lagos has ordered that four companies associated with former Enugu State governor, Chimaroke Nnamani, be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The four companies – Rainbownet Nigeria Limited, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nigeria Limited and Renaissance University Teaching Hospital were convicted by a judge of the Lagos court, Justice Mohammed Yinusa after pleading guilty to a 10-count amended charge against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The companies had pleaded guilty on May 19, and Justice Yinusa on reviewing the facts before him convicted them and made an order of final forfeiture of their assets to the Federal Government, citing provision of the EFCC Establishment Act.

While the assets were said to be worth over N5bn, the amount standing to the companies’ credit in 64 bank accounts was estimated at N34.8m.

All the properties are located across the five states in the South-East geo-political zone. They include 22 Duplex buildings in Ebeano Under Tunnel Estate now known as Fidelity Estate; Renaissance University Teaching Hospital; Cosmos 105.5 FM Digital Station (Ceuna Communications); and Capital City Automobile Limited, located at 12 Station Road ,GRA, Enugu.

Others are properties of Hill Gate Investment which include: Plot Number H12, H13, H14, H15, H21`, H116, H188, Plot 10, Plot H11, Plot H16, Plot H17, Plot H18, Plot 19, Plot H20, Plot H49, Plot H50, Plot H117, CP/4 (HCR2), CP5 (HCR2) CP/6(HCR2) CP/7 (HCR2) CP/8.

There are also undeveloped property and plots of land of Rainbownet Nigeria Limited in Enugu, Abakaliki, Aba, Owerri, Onitsha, Awka and Umuahia. Also, property of Rainbownet Communication which include BTS, Microwave Avenue Radio, Rectifiere.

The companies had on May 19, 2015 been re-arraigned on an amended 10-count for the various roles they played in the alleged crime committed by Nnamani.

Read also: EFCC goes after former govs Kalu, Dariye, Igbinedion, others

The EFCC had opted to try them separately from Nnamani and three others, saying it needed to fast-track their trial so as to prevent their assets from “being eroded.”

The EFCC, in the amended 10-count filed against the companies, accused them among other things, of failing to comply with a lawful enquiry by Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, who was then the EFCC’s Director of Operations.

Lamorde, it was said, had ordered investigation into the complicity of the four companies in the offences levelled against Nnamani.

The companies had, however, allegedly refused to release their cash books, fixed assets, various vouchers and cheques to the EFCC operatives for investigation.

They were also accused of failure to give the breakdown of their trade creditors and to show the names of their creditors and amounts from between 2002 and 2006.

The judge held, “The properties listed in the schedule are hereby forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria in line with the EFCC Act.”

Yunusa subsequently adjourned the trial of the remaining accused persons till November 12, 2015.

They are Nnamani; his erstwhile aide, Sunday Anyaogu; Hillgate Nigeria Limited; and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.

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