THE Federal High Court in Abuja had on Wednesday ordered the interim forfeiture of over N104 million worth of properties traced to one Aminu Garunbabba, an employee of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed in a statement.
According to the EFCC, Mr Garunbabba bought the properties with funds he received from the FIRS as Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) for false trips between 2017 and 2018.
The judge, the Honourable Justice Obiora Egwuatu, issued the order for interim forfeiture of the properties following an ex parte application by EFCC’s lawyer, Mr Ekele Iheanacho, on Wednesday.
EFCC’s spokesperson, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, who disclosed this in a statement, said Mr Iheanacho anchored the application on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The court directed that the interim forfeiture order be published in Thisday and Punch newspapers, alerting anyone with interest in the properties to show cause why they should not be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The defendant was alleged to have between 2017 and 2018 received the sum of N341, 971,950 from the FIRS as Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) for travels that were not made and diverted the proceeds to acquire the forfeited properties, which include a four-bedroom Terrace Maisonatte with BQ at Barumark Groove Estate, Plot 667 Cadastral Zone Bo3, Wuye District, Abuja purchased at the rate of N65 million. The other property bought for N39 million is situated at No. 5 Lodge Road, Kano State.
Justice Egwuatu adjourned till March 23, 2022, for consideration of the motion for final forfeiture of the properties.
