The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had arraigned the former Accountant-General of the Federation and eight others before the Federal High Court in Abuja on money laundering charges involving diversion of N2billion from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser.
A former Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Jonah Otunla, and Colonel Bello Fadile, aide to former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, on Monday forfeited the sum of N775 million and several properties in Abuja to the Nigerian government.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had arraigned the former Accountant-General of the Federation and eight others before the Federal High Court in Abuja on money laundering charges involving diversion of N2billion from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The EFCC however on Monday secured the final forfeiture of the money and several properties before Justice D.U. Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
According to the court statement, the properties are located at No. 8 Ajay Crowther Street, Asokoro, Abuja; a Plot of land at Plot 1960 Cadastral Zone A05 Maitama District, FCT, Abuja; a Hotel which is under construction with generating set, located at Plot 621, Road 37, Gwarimpa, FCT, Abuja and a twin 4 bedroom duplex with guard quarters located at Plot 736, 7th Avenue Gwarimpa, FCT, Abuja.
The money and properties are said to be the product of illicit activities of a former Accountant General of the Federation, Jonah Otunla and Colonel Bello Fadile, aide to former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki.
The counsel to the EFCC, Christopher Mshelia, while moving the motion, told the court that the assets recovered by the Commission in the course of investigating contract fraud in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under Sambo Dasuki, were proceeds of the unlawful activities of Col. Fadile and Otunla.
The N775, 000,000 was refunded by Otunla and Otunba Ade Adelakun (late) during the investigation, whilst the landed properties sought to be forfeited are “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of an unlawful activity received, retained, concealed and converted by the respondents from the office of the National Security Adviser to the President.”
Head, Media and Publicity of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said the Commission had on July 20, 2020 secured an interim forfeiture order on the assets and also published the Order of the court on August 11, 2022, for the respondent to show cause why the money and properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
Meanwhile, Justice Okorowo, in granting the final forfeiture, stated that the court was satisfied with the evidence before it and ordered the final forfeiture of the assets to the Federal Government of Nigeria.