The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, ordered the final forfeiture of the sum of seven million dollars recovered by the EFCC to the Federal Government.
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order after EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, moved an application for the final forfeiture of the money.
Oyedepo reminded that the court, on Aug. 27, granted the commission’s request for the interim freezing of the sum.
He said the anti-graft agency had complied with the directive of the court by publishing the interim order for interested parties to show cause why the final order should not be made.
He said an affidavit of compliance was filed on Sept. 3.
“My lord, since Aug. 27 that your lordship granted the order till date, we have not received any opposition to our application.
“Hence, we filed a motion for final forfeiture,” he said.
9news Nigeria recalls that on Friday when the matter was heard, a lawyer, Mr Gbenga Akande, announced appearance for an interested party.
Although Akande refused to disclose the name of his client who he represented to the court despite the pressure by Oyedepo and the judge, the lawyer promised to file their affidavit to show cause and other documents today.
“My lord, as soon as we file our response, the learner counsel for the applicant will know the interested party,” he said.
The judge, who ordered Oyedepo to serve Akande with copies of the documents, adjourned the matter until Sept. 15 for report.
But when the matter was called on Monday, Akande was not in court.
However, another lawyer, Darlington Ozurumba, appeared in court for an interested party.
Oyedepo, therefore, moved the application for final forfeiture of the money to the Federal Government since no party had shown interest in the matter.
