Justice Muslim Sule Hassan of a Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the permanent forfeiture of two property belonging to two Naval officers, Captains Olotu Olumuyiwa Morakinyo and Ebony Emmanuel Aneke, suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity to the Federal Government.
The judge also ordered the forfeiture of N11.04 million found in the account of a firm, Lakewood Garden Ventures limited, suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity. The firm was said to be jointly owned by Captain Ebony Emmanuel Aneke and his sister, Jumie Aneke.
The orders were sequel to the granting of a motion for final forfeiture of the money and property which was filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The judge had on March 28, directed the temporary forfeiture of the money and the houses described as: a three bedroom Terrace Duplex located at Lekki Gardens Limited Phase 4, Ajah –Lekki and a 5-bedroom Duplex in Lekki Lagos.
In granting the motion for temporary forfeiture, the judge directed the anti-graft agency to publish the order in any national daily for the respondents or anyone who is interested in the property sought to be forfeited to appear before the court to show cause within 14 days why the final forfeiture of the property should not be made in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Justice Hassan also ordered the publication of the order in a national daily.
At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that in line with the court’s directive, the order has been published in a national daily.
He also informed the court that the naval officers have been served with the motion on notice and that they acknowledged service.
The lawyer while urging the court to grant the motion for final forfeiture noted that no one has shown up in court to declare any interest in the property and fund sought to be forfeited.
In granting the motion for final forfeiture, Justice Hassan held that the applicant (EFCC) has complied totally with the provisions of Section 17 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2004. The judge also noted that all the averments contained in an affidavit in support of the motion were never controverted.
In an affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by one of its operatives, Idris Adamu, the anti-graft agency claimed it received intelligence report for the case of conspiracy, stealing and money laundering against the two Naval officers who were posted to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) as Maritime Guard Commanders from September 2011 to September 2015.
He added that the committee of anti-piracy logistics account was opened and maintain by the Maritime Guard Command of NIMASA.
The deponent further averred that Captain Olotu Olumuyiwa Morakinyo, converted N40.9 million belonging to NIMASA for personal use. He was said to have received the money from individuals and firms through his personal account domiciled at Access Bank Plc.
The deponent said part of the money was meant for the construction of a communication Centre for Maritime Guard command.
Adamu further averred that Captain Morakinyo used the diverted fund to acquire a three bedroom Terrace Duplex located at Lekki Gardens Limited Phase 4, Ajah -Lekki, while he also used the account of his wife, Rhoda Olotu, to launder part of the monies used in buying the property.
The deponent further averred that Captain Aneke, also received monies totaling N85.9 million, from two firms, at various times.
He was said to have received N55.9 million from Crescent Pillars Investment Limited and another N30 million from Seabulk Offshore Limited through his Diamond bank account.
Captain Aneke was alleged to have used the proceeds of the alleged fraud to acquire a 5-bedroom Duplex in Lekki Lagos.
The deponent said various witnesses who were privy to the transactions were invited and had made voluntary statements to the EFCC. He added that Captain Aneke’s sister, Jumie Aneke, had refunded N11.04 million to the commission.
