By By Micheal Chukwuebuka
JUSTICE Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, April 10, issued a final forfeiture order concerning seven properties associated with Muiz Tijani Adeyinka, a former employee of First Bank Plc.
The properties affected include: Plot 9, Block 28 Itunu City, Veritas Homes & Properties Ltd., Aiyetoro, Epe, Lagos State; a three-bedroom apartment identified as Block A, Floor 6, Flat 2 (Block A/6/2) Le Moriah Residences Estate, Off Kusenla Road, Ikate Ancient City, Lekki Peninsula, Eti-Osa LGA, Lagos State; a plot labeled Block L1, Plot 13, Amen Estate, Phase III Extension, Abomiti Zone, Lekki/Epe Expressway, Epe LGA, Lagos State; a plot titled Block 3, Plot 13, Arizon Estate, located within the Idera Scheme Allocation near Eleko Junction, Ibeju-Lekki LGA; another plot within Arizon Estate, Idera Scheme, Ibeju-Lekki LGA; and one within Itunu Residential, Aiyetoro, Ibeju-Lekki LGA.
Additional properties include: Plot 7, Block 4 Itunu City, Veritas Homes & Properties Ltd, Aiyetoro, Epe LGA, Lagos; Plot 1, Ido Gwari 2 Extension, situated in Ochacho Real Homes, Ido-Gwari 2 Extension, LifeCamp, Abuja; and Block Q, Plot 25, Tiara by Amen City Limited, along the Lekki/Epe Expressway, Yeguda Resettlement Scheme, Epe, Lagos State.
The ruling followed a motion on notice submitted by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), located on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, and presented by the Commission’s counsel, Zeenat Atiku.
Previously, Justice Dipeolu had issued an interim forfeiture order for the same properties and directed that the order be published in a national newspaper, allowing any interested individuals or parties to present reasons why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
When the motion for the final forfeiture was brought before the court on Thursday, Atiku informed the judge that “no one showed cause within the 14 days window granted after the publication.”
She further noted that the motion was backed by an affidavit sworn to by EFCC operative Isah Yusuf Nadabo.
Within the affidavit, Nadabo explained that Tijani had been employed in the bank’s settlement office, a role which granted him exclusive access privileges by virtue of his position.
He also added in the affidavit that “He, therefore, carried out illegal, unauthorised and fraudulent activities against First Bank Nigeria Plc.”
“Investigation has thus far revealed and traced the sum of N35billion (Thirty Five Billion Naira) benefitted by Muiz Tijani Adeyinka and his cronies.”
Atiku urged the court to grant the final forfeiture, arguing that the properties traced to Tijani were believed to be acquired with proceeds from illicit activities.
After reviewing the submission, Justice Dipeolu ruled in favor of the EFCC’s application and granted the final forfeiture of the assets to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
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