Court Orders Forfeiture Of 10 Properties, Funds Linked To Ex-Zamfara Gov

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of about 10 properties and funds in banks allegedly linked to a former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu gave the order yesterday while ruling on an ex parte application by lawyer to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha.

Justice Egwuatu said the interim order granted would last 60 days to enable the commission conclude its investigation, following which it could apply for the final forfeiture.

The judge ordered the ICPC to publicise the order for any person or persons with interest in the affected properties to show cause within 14 days why they should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

Some of the properties, according to the ICPC, are in Maryland (U.S.A), Abuja, Kaduna, among others.

Moving the motion, Akponimisingha had told the court that ICPC’s preliminary investigation revealed that the affected properties were allegedly actuated by the ex-governor with proceeds of crime.

The lawyer said some of them, acquired from Abuja-based EFAB Properties Limited, were paid for with funds allegedly stolen from the coffers of Zamfara State government.

He added that the orders sought were meant to preserve the properties and funds in three banks from being dissipated before the conclusion of investigation.

Akponimisingha claimed that there were proofs that Yari made anticipatory declaration of assets in the asset declaration forms he filled while assuming office as Zamfara State governor.

The lawyer recalled that another judge of the same Federal High Court, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, had, in January 2021, granted an order of final forfeiture of funds allegedly held in banks by Yari.

Justice Ojukwu had, upon an application by the ICPC, ordered ýthe final forfeiture of the funds held in two banks.

ICPC had claimed that while $56,056.75 was lodged in one of the bank accounts, the sums of N12.9 million, N11.2 million, $301,319.99; N217,388.04 and $311,872.15 were kept in another bank accounts in the name of Yari and his companies.

Justice Ojukwu held, among others, that the former governor failed to establish his ownership of the funds.

Yari was governor of Zamfara State between May 2011 and May 2019.