By Sola Ojo, Abuja
Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, ordered the final forfeiture of seven properties linked to Muiz Tijani Adeyinka, a former First Bank Plc employee.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, listed the properties. They include Plot 9, Block 28, Itunu City, Veritas Homes & Properties Ltd, Aiyetoro, Epe, Lagos State; a three-bedroom flat (Block A, Floor 6, Flat 2) at Le Moriah Residences Estate, Off Kusenla Road, Ikate Ancient City, Lekki Peninsula, Eti-Osa LGA, Lagos State; and a parcel of land (Block L1, Plot 13) at Amen Estate, Phase III Extension, Abomiti Zone, Lekki/Epe Express Way, Epe LGA, Lagos State.
Other properties are Block 3, Plot 13, Arizon Estate, within Idera Scheme Allocation via Eleko Junction, Ibeju-Lekki LGA; one plot within Arizone Estate, Idera Scheme, Ibeju-Lekki LGA; one plot within Itunu Residential, Aiyetoro, Ibeju-Lekki LGA; Plot 7, Block 4, Itunu City, Veritas Homes & Properties Ltd, Aiyetoro, Epe LGA; Plot 1, Ido Gwari 2 Extension, Ochacho Real Homes, LifeCamp, Abuja; and Block Q, Plot 25, Tiara by Amen City Limited, along Lekki/Epe Express Way, Yeguda Resettlement Scheme, Epe, Lagos State.
The order followed a motion filed by the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, through lawyer Zeenat Atiku. Justice Dipeolu had previously ordered an interim forfeiture and its publication in a national newspaper, giving interested parties 14 days to object.
Atiku presented the final forfeiture motion, noting no objections were received within the 14-day period. She supported the application with an affidavit from EFCC operative Isah Yusuf Nadabo. He stated that Adeyinka, a settlement office worker at First Bank, exploited his access to conduct “illegal, unauthorised and fraudulent activities” against the bank.
Nadabo added that investigations traced N35 billion benefitted by Adeyinka and his associates. Atiku argued that the properties were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Justice Dipeolu found merit in the EFCC’s case and ordered the final forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government of Nigeria.