The Federal High Court in Kaduna has ordered an interim forfeiture of N1.37 billion allegedly diverted from the coffers of the Kaduna State Government into a private account.
The money, a part of the funds released for a failed light rail project in Kaduna State, was diverted during the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who governed the state between 2015-2023.
The judge, H. Barau, issued the forfeiture order on February 28, following an ex parte applications by Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Relates Offences (ICPC), which traced the money to a private account.
On February 14, the anti-graft agency file the ex-parte application seeking the recovery of the money. The ICPC, said El-Rufai administration never executed the project, depriving the people of Kaduna State of the benefit of rail transportation system, which the money was meant for.
The Commission said Kaduna State officials diverted the money through Indo Kaduna MRTS JV Nig. Ltd, a joint venture entity set up in 2016 by the state government and Indianpeople.
ICPC lawyer, S. O Akponimisingha, moved the application on 28 February. Being an ex parte hearing, the proceedings excluded the adverse parties who might want to oppose the forfeit application.
Therefore, while granting the the ICPC’s application, the judge not only rendered the interim forfeiture of the money, he also directed the anti-graft agency to publish a notice in any two national newspapers requesting any person with interest in the money to present their claim and show cause in court, why the asset should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
The Judge then adjourned further proceedings till April 8, for such interested people who may want to claim the money to make their case in the court.
-9News Nigeria.
