Justice Giwa Ogunbanjo of Federal High Court Abuja, Thursday, ordered the final forfeiture of N550million and N51million, respectively, being proceeds of fraud, identified as belonging to one Okunrinboye Tomsin Titus and domiciled in Zenith Bank.
A press statement by the Head, Media and Publicity, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Wilson Uwujaren, in press statement in Abuja, said the commission on Monday made a final forfeiture application for the monies before Justice Giwa.
He said the trio of Titus Okunrinboye, Vincent Odafen, and Muara Muhammed Gambo, are being prosecuted by the EFCC for allegedly running and operating companies, which were alleged to have been used to siphon public funds under the façade of contracts and consultancy.
The spokesperson said the EFCC on June 28, 2019, had applied for interim forfeiture before Justice Giwa, who granted the application and stipulated that the Commission should place the application in a national newspaper.
According to him, “On October 7, 2019, the Prosecution Counsel, M.S. Abubakar, told the court that the commission had complied with the judge’s stipulation by advertising the interim forfeiture application in The Nation Newspaper.
“We have complied and we’re now back to apply for final forfeiture and the affidavit in support of the motion on notice, as the defendant has not filed any counter,” Abubakar stated.
He said Justice Giwa, however, asked the prosecution counsel to serve the defendant the notice on motion, just as he also urged Abubakar to make sure that the account number filed by the prosecution for the forfeiture is thoroughly verified to be a Central Bank account number and must be supported with documents to ensure that where the funds would be transferred is a genuine federal government’s account.
Uwujaren said at the resumed hearing, Thursday, the prosecution counsel urged the court to grant EFCC’s prayers since there was no counter affidavit against the application.
He said Justice Giwa granted the prayers of the prosecution and placed an order, directing Zenith Bank to transfer the forfeited funds into the Cash Assets Final Forfeiture of the CBN.
