Judge’s absence stalls ruling on perm sec’s funds forfeiture

The absence of Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court
in Lagos on Wednesday stalled ruling on an application filed by the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), seeking the final
forfeiture of N664,475,246.6 and $137,680.11 allegedly recovered
from a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Labour and
Productivity, Dr. Clement Illoh Onubuogo.

The court had earlier ordered the interim forfeiture of the
money following an August 15 motion ex-parte application filed by
the EFCC.

Justice Abdulazeez Anka, who ordered the interim forfeiture,
also authorised the EFCC to seize a property described as “Clement
Illoh’s Mansion” at Ikom Quarters, Issala-Azegba in Delta State and
a hotel on 19, Madue Nwafor Street, off Achala Ibuzo Road, Asaba,
Delta State.

The judge directed the EFCC to notify the permanent secretary,
in whose possession the properties were found, to appear before the
court and show cause within 14 days why the properties should not
be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The judge also directed the publication of the interim orders in
any national newspaper for any interested person to appear before
the judge to show cause within 14 days why the order should not be
made permanent.

He adjourned till Wednesday for ruling, but Justice Obiozor, who
took over from Justice Anka as the vacation judge, was absent.

An EFCC investigator, Huleji Abraham Tukura, said Onubuogo
converted the funds from the N10billion released by the federal
government during his supervision of the Subsidy Reinvestment
(SURE-P) programme.

Onubuogo was arraigned for failing to declare some of his hidden
cash assets.

EFCC said he failed to declare N97,300,613.44, $139,575.50 and
£10,121.52 found in three of his bank accounts.

Onubuogo pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Court officials fixed Thursday for ruling on the forfeiture
application.

The absence of Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court
in Lagos on Wednesday stalled ruling on an application filed by the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), seeking the final
forfeiture of N664,475,246.6 and $137,680.11 allegedly recovered
from a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Labour and
Productivity, Dr. Clement Illoh Onubuogo.

The court had earlier ordered the interim forfeiture of the
money following an August 15 motion ex-parte application filed by
the EFCC.

Justice Abdulazeez Anka, who ordered the interim forfeiture,
also authorised the EFCC to seize a property described as “Clement
Illoh’s Mansion” at Ikom Quarters, Issala-Azegba in Delta State and
a hotel on 19, Madue Nwafor Street, off Achala Ibuzo Road, Asaba,
Delta State.

The judge directed the EFCC to notify the permanent secretary,
in whose possession the properties were found, to appear before the
court and show cause within 14 days why the properties should not
be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The judge also directed the publication of the interim orders in
any national newspaper for any interested person to appear before
the judge to show cause within 14 days why the order should not be
made permanent.

He adjourned till Wednesday for ruling, but Justice Obiozor, who
took over from Justice Anka as the vacation judge, was absent.

An EFCC investigator, Huleji Abraham Tukura, said Onubuogo
converted the funds from the N10billion released by the federal
government during his supervision of the Subsidy Reinvestment
(SURE-P) programme.

Onubuogo was arraigned for failing to declare some of his hidden
cash assets.

EFCC said he failed to declare N97,300,613.44, $139,575.50 and
£10,121.52 found in three of his bank accounts.

Onubuogo pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Court officials fixed Thursday for ruling on the forfeiture
application.