The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja Monday granted an order of interim forfeiture of N510 million suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities perpetuated by a former Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Uko Etim Ebong.
AVM Ebong, it was learnt, was the Commander PAF between 2013 and July 2015.
It was alleged that the sum was contained in an account belonging to a company, Elioenai International College linked to the ex- Air Chief.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed subsequently granted the order while ruling on an ex-parte application filed and argued by lawyer to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ekele Iheanacho.
According to the EFCC, the money formed part of the N731million allegedly paid to AVM Ebong by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) without any contractual agreement through a company, Magnificent 5 Ventures Limited, with which he allegedly has a link with.
In his ruling, Justice Mohammed said he was convinced that the EFCC made out a case to warrant the grant of the interim forfeiture order.
“An order is hereby made for the interim forfeiture of the sum of N510, 000, 000 in Sterling Bank account No: 0029581583 recovered by the applicant, which funds are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.” he said.
Continuing, Mohammed further ordered the EFCC to publicise the said order and for anyone who is interested in the funds in respect of which the order was made, to appear before the court and show cause within 14 days why the money should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
In a supporting affidavit, the EFCC stated that while being a public officer, AVM Ebong managed and used Magnificent 5 Ventures Ltd, Tripple Kay Company Nigeria Ltd and Elionenai International College Ltd all private companies, to carry out financial transactions while concealing his identity.
“Magnificent 5 Ventures Ltd is a company registered with the CAC. Though directors of the company on paper are Mrs. Ebong Mercy Uko (the wife of AVM Ebong) and Ekpo Ubong Asuquo (AVM’s in-law i.e. brother to AVM’s wife); AVM Ebong controlled the financial dealings of the company.
“Without any contractual agreement, a total sum of N731, 000, 000.00 was paid to Magnificent 5 Ventures Limited between May, 2014 and October, 2014 by the ONSA under the guise of payment for renovation of PAF barracks, PAF staff quarters.
“There is no proof of any work carried out by Magnificent 5 Ventures Ltd based on which the above payments were made to it.
“The payments were made into the Sterling Bank Plc Account No. 0026142493 operated by Magnificent 5 Ventures Ltd. Mrs. Ebong Mercy Uko and her brother, Ekpo Ubong Asuquo are also the signatories to the said bank account of Magnificent 5 Ventures Ltd.
“That upon receipt of the above funds into the account of Magnificent 5 Ventures Ltd, the funds were transferred and fixed deposited in the Sterling Bank Account of Tripple Kay Company Nigeria Ltd.
“The transfer instructions were purportedly authorized by Mrs. Ebong – the wife of AVM Ebong.
“Tripple Kay Company Ltd is a registered company with its directors as Ebong Ikanke and Ebong Mercy Uko. AVM Ebong signed as director in the CAC particulars of directors with the name Ebong Ikanke.
“AVM Ebong also not only signed as the company’s secretary in the company’s Board resolution in opening account with Sterling Bank; he was similarly signatory to the account of the company at all material times.”
