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Court orders interim forfeiture of two Abuja properties linked to Okorocha

A FEDERAL High Court, Abuja has given an interim order forfeiting two properties in Abuja linked to Senator Rochas Okorocha to the Federal Government.

The order today followed an ex-parte motion moved by counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ekele Iheanacho.

The properties are located in Plots 1032 and 1033 Cadastral Zone, A03 Takum Close, Off Michika Street, Ahmadu Bello Way, Garki Abuja.

Justice Emeka Nwite directed the EFCC to publish the order on a national daily for the interested person(s) to show cause within 14 days why the final forfeiture order should not be made.

The lawyer said that the property recovered by the commission was reasonably suspected to proceed with unlawful activities.

In an affidavit in support of the motion ex-parte deposed to by Stanley Ani, an operative of the EFCC, the officer said he was the investigating officer assigned to investigate a petition as well as an intelligence received by the agency which bordered on conspiracy and money laundering.

Ani said the investigation revealed that in 2018, Okorocha, as governor of Imo State, awarded multi-billion naira contracts to some companies for state projects.

The EFCC operative added that the companies used the money paid to them to develop property belonging to Okorocha’s company among other suspicious transactions.

The judge adjourned the matter until April 13 for a hearing.

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