EFCC seeks forfeiture order on Amosu’s N2.2bn

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed an
application, seeking the final forfeiture of the sum of
N2,244,500,000 seized from a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal
Adesola Amosu (retd.).

In the application filed before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of
the Federal High Court in Lagos, the anti-graft agency is equally
praying for the permanent forfeiture of another N190,828,978.15
recovered from an ex-Director of Finance and Budget, Nigerian Air
Force NAF, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo.

The application also seeks the permanent forfeiture of a sum of
N101m found in the bank account of Solomon Enterprises, a firm
linked to Amosu.

The EFCC said the funds were reasonably suspected to be proceeds
of criminal activities.

The move for the final forfeiture followed a temporary
forfeiture order made by the court on June 14, 2018.

The EFCC accused Amosu of conspiring with Gbadebo and Air Vice
Marshal Jacob Adigun to divert funds meant for NAF operations while
Amosu headed the security agency.

Amosu, Gbadebo and Adigun were said to have allegedly used eight
companies to siphon the money from the coffers of NAF.

The companies were listed as Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd; Mcallan
Oil and Gas Ltd; Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd
;Trapezites BDC; Fonds and Pricey Ltd; Deegee Oil and Gas Ltd;
Timsegg Investment Ltd and Solomon Health Care Ltd.

The EFCC arraigned the trio alongside the eight firms for
allegedly laundering N22.8bn.

The matter is currently before Justice C.J. Aneke of the Federal
High Court in Lagos.

On Tuesday, Justice Olatoregun of the same court adjourned till
November 12, 2018 to hear the application seeking the final
forfeiture of the funds recovered from Amosu, Gbadebo and Solomon
Enterprises.

Meanwhile, the planned re-arraignment of Amosu, Gbadebo and
Adigun before Justice Aneke was stalled as the defence counsel and
the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, were locked in heated
arguments.

As opposed to the original charge sheet wherein Amosu, Gbadebo,
Adigun and the eight companies were joined as defendants, the
amended charge sheet did not contain the names of the eight
companies.

When the case was called up for hearing on Tuesday, the
prosecutor told Justice Aneke that he had amended the charge sheet
and would like the defendants to be re-arraigned.

But Amosu’s lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), said while he
was not opposed to the amended charge, he would like the judge to
first discharge and acquit the eight companies since their names
had been removed from the charge sheet.

The other defence counsel, including Mr Norrison Quakers (SAN)
and Chief Wale Taiwo (SAN), aligned with Ayorinde’s submission.

But the prosecutor, Oyedepo, disagreed with them, saying the
court had no business acquitting and discharging the companies.

Justice Aneke adjourned till November 13, 2018 for ruling.