It alleged that Oke’s wife, Folasade, used part of the funds to buy Flat 7B in Osborne Towers on 16 Osborne Road, Ikoyi, where large sums of foreign and local currencies were recovered. The Federal High Court in Lagos Thursday ordered the flat’s temporary forfeiture to the Federal Government. It will be permanently forfeited if no one turns up to justify ownership within 14 days, Justice Saliu Saidu ruled. He ruled on an application by the EFCC, which was moved by prosecuting counsel Mr Rotimi Oyedepo. The commission said Mrs Oke made made cash payment of $1,658,000 in tranches of $700,000, $650,000 and $353,700, for the flat’s purchase between August 25 and September 3, 2015. EFCC, in a supporting affidavit deposed to by an investigating officer, Mr Musa Giwa, said Mrs Oke gave the cash to a bureau de change operator, Alhaji Shehu Usman Anka, to pay for the flat. It alleged that the money was fraudulently converted by Oke. EFCC said: “The sum of $1,658,000 which Mrs Folasade Oke gave in cash to Alhaji Shehu Usman was part of the funds belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria which was fraudulently converted by Mr Ayodele Oke whilst serving as Director-General of NIA. “The funds used to acquire the property sought to be forfeited in the name of Chobe Ventures belong to the Federal Government of Nigeria but was fraudulently converted to the use of Chobe Ventures. It is in the interest of justice to grant this application.” The sums found in the flat are $43,449,947 (about N13billion), N23, 218,000 and £27,800 (about N10.6milion). The court ordered their forfeiture to the Federal Government on June 6. The NIA through Oke claimed ownership of the funds, following which he was suspended and subsequently sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari. Justice Saidu Thursday granted an interim order forfeiting the flat and its appurtenances. EFCC said they were reasonably suspected to have been acquired “with the proceeds of unlawful activity.” He ordered EFCC to notify Chobe Ventures in whose possession the flat was found to appear in court and show cause within 14 days why the property should not be forfeited to the Federal Government. The court also directed the commission to publish the interim order in a national newspaper for the respondent or anyone interested in the property to show cause within 14 days as to why a final forfeiture order should not be made. EFCC said when it recovered the huge cash from the flat on April 12, it also recovered several documents indicating that the flat belonged to Chobe Ventures, including invoices and cash receipts issued to the company. It wrote the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for the particulars of Chobe Ventures’ directors. The CAC responded, stating that the directors of Chobe Ventures were Mrs Folade Oke and Mr Ayodele Oke Jr. EFCC said Mrs Oke bought the flat in 2014 from a firm, Fine & County International Realty, through one Rawlings Ehumadu. According to the commission, Mrs Oke instructed Alhaji Anka to transfer the funds to Fine & County. EFCC said Fine & County acknowledged receipt of payment for the flat as well as additional N9.4million professional fees for services rendered Chobe Ventures. “After the payment to Fine & County, a deed of assignment in respect of the property sought to be forfeited was executed. Upon the execution of the deed, the property was handed over to Chobe Ventures,” EFCC said. The commission alleged that the money used in acquiring the property was “fraudulently converted” by Mr Oke while serving as NIA Director-General. Justice Saidu adjourned till November 30.]]>

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