The Ilorin Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Wednesday, secured the final forfeiture of three blocks of two bedroom flats situated at Gaa Ajegunle village, Egbejila road, Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.
Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of a Kwara state high court, gave the order of the final forfeiture of the property belonging to one Mr Olalekan Alabi, said to be one of the personal aides of the former governor of the state, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, after hearing the unchallenged application brought by the EFCC.
The anti-graft agency had on November 18, 2019, approached the court to order the final forfeiture of the said property and one Honda Accord car to the Federal government of Nigeria, on the grounds that it was acquired through proceeds on unlawful activity.
Moving the application Wednesday, Counsel to the EFCC, Mr A A Adebayo told the court that “My Lord, our motion is dated 18th November,2019, the motion is praying your Lordship to grant the order of final forfeiture of the property lying and situated at Gaa Ajegunle village, Egbejila road Ilorin, which was found and recovered by the commission from the respondent.”
He said “we have complied with the order of your Lordship by publishing the interim order in the Nation Newspaper, the respondent was issued with the hearing notice, he was duly notified, I urge your Lordship to grant our prayers and order the final forfeiture of the said property.”
After listening to the EFCC lawyer, Justice Oyinloye said ” I have seen the order of this honorable court published in the Nation Newspaper, this court is of the opinion that the respondent was duly informed, but decided not to challenge the application.”
This honorable court hereby grant the request of the EFCC, the said property and the car are hereby forfeited to the Federal government of Nigeria,” Oyinloye ruled.
