A federal high court has ordered Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to forfeit N15 billion it recovered in a raid to the federal government.
Officials on Wednesday recovered $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23,218,000 at an apartment, located at flat 7B, No. 13 Osborne road, Osborne Towers, Ikoyi.
EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo told the court no one had come forward to claim the monies, and facility management staff at the apartment where the money was found could not provide information on the possible owner of the money.
Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other related Offence Act confers the power to temporarily forfeit the money to federal government.
“For security reasons and because of the volume, we did not want to bring the money before my lord but we have registered it as an exhibit with the exhibit keeper and the evidence is contained in Exhibit EFCC 04,” Oyedepo argued in court.
“I therefore, humbly and most respectful urge my lord to forfeit this money to the Federal Government pending anyone has the mind to come and claim the money,” Oyedepo added.
Justice Muslim Sule Hassan granted the order but EFCC will advertise or publish the interim forfeiture order in a National Newspaper for any concerned party to see.
The judge adjourned till May 5, 2017 for such person to come before him to give reasons the money should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal government of Nigeria.
