ZAMFARA: Ex-gov, Yari, forfeits N284m to FG

A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has ordered the forfeiture of N284,306m traced to former Governor Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari to the Federal Government.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu said Yari could not prove to the court how he acquired such huge amount of money before and after serving as governor of Zamfara State from 2011-2019.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other-Related Offences Commission had dragged Yari and two companies belonging to him (Kayatawa Nig. Ltd and B.T. Oil and Gas Nig. Ltd.) to the court following an indictment for alleged fraud.

The money was said to have been lodged with Zenith Bank and Polaris Bank.

$687,874.81 and about N24,289,522.89 were deposited in the two banks respectively.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo had initially granted an interim order on the money on August 16, 2019.

He told the respondent to exonerate themselves from the ICPC allegations.

Defending his client, Yari’s lawyer, U.Kelechi, urged the court to set aside the interim order, claiming that he was rich before becoming the governor of the state.

Ojukwu, however, queried how one of Yari’s company’s bank accounts grew from zero to a humongous amount at the end of his tenure.

While dismissing the allegation of a political witch-hunt, Justice Ojukwu said, “The respondents have not countered the case and facts presented by the applicants. The respondents having failed to establish the legitimate source of the money as stated in this case, the honourable court hereby makes an order of final forfeiture of the following:

“An order of final forfeiture of the sum of 12, 912, 848.68 naira being proceeds of some unlawful activity stashed in Zenith Bank Plc…in the name of Abdulazeez Abubakar Yari.

“An order of final forfeiture of the sum of $57, 056.75, being proceeds of some unlawful activity stashed in Polaris Bank with account number…in the name of Abdulazeez Abubakar Yari.

“An order of forfeiture of the sum of N11, 159, 674 .17, being proceeds stashed in Zenith Bank Plc…in the name of Kayatawa Nigeria Limited.

“An order of final forfeiture of the sum of $319, 000.91 being proceed of some unlawful activity stashed in Zenith Bank Plc…in the name of Kayatawa Nigeria Limited.

“An order of final forfeiture of the sum of N217, 000.04 being proceeds of some unlawful activity allegedly stashed in Zenith Bank Plc…in the name of B.T Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.

“An order of final forfeiture of the sum of $311, 817.15 being proceeds of some unlawful activity stashed in Zenith Bank Plc…the name of BT. Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.”