Details: Govt Gets Interim Forfeiture Order On 48 Properties Of Ex-NSITF Boss Ngozi Ojeme In Abuja, Bayelsa, Enugu, Edo & Delta States

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the interim forfeiture of 48 properties belonging to the former chairman of Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Funds, NSITF, Dr Ngozi Olejeme.

The court presided over by Justice Taiwo Taiwo on Wednesday ordered the forfeiture of the properties spread across the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Bayelsa, Enugu, Edo and Delta states to the Federal Government.

Dr Olojeme who was also the Treasurer of the Jonathan-Sambo Campaign Organisation in 2015, had been on the run since 2016 and was in September, 2017 declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds and money laundering.

She was alleged to have, along with former managing director of NSITF, Mr Umar Munir Abubakar, mismanaged and diverted over N69 billion belonging to the Federal Government into their personal accounts through the award of spurious contracts to proxy companies.

The forfeiture order was granted after counsel, Ebele Iheanacho, convinced the court that the said properties were purchased with proceeds of crime. He buttressed his position with 14 exhibits, attached to his affidavit, filed on May 29, 2020.

In granting the application, Justice Taiwo ruled that the interim order should be published in a leading newspaper within seven days of receipt of the order and for any interested party to show concern within 14 days as to why the properties should not be permanentlyforfeited to the federal government.

He adjourned the matter till July 27, 2020