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Justice Chukujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of five properties linked to a former Managing Director, Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL), Major-General U.M. Mohammed.
The judge gave the order on Wednesday following a motion on notice filed and argued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its lawyer, A.O. Mohammed.
The properties are No.8b, Bedwell Road, Ikoyi; No.3, Force Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; No.14, Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; No.6, Marina, Ikoyi, Lagos and No. 28, Point Road, Apapa, Lagos.
In a statement, the EFCC said its investigation revealed that the properties were fraudulently misappropriated and the proceeds of the sale diverted for personal use.
Interim Forfeiture
The judge had, on March 4, 2024, ordered the interim forfeiture of the properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity and also directed the publication of the order in a national newspaper for any interested person to show cause why they should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Final Forfeiture
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Moving the application for the final forfeiture of the properties on Wednesday, Mohammed told the court that the commission had complied with the order of the court regarding the publication.
He also submitted that “it will be in the interest of justice for the court to grant the prayers being sought and also order the final forfeiture of the property to the Federal Government.”
The judge, after listening to the submissions of EFCC’s counsel, ordered the final forfeiture of the five properties to the Federal Government in favour of NAPL.
Court Martial
In October 2023, a Nigerian Army Special Court Martial sitting in Abuja sentenced Maj. Gen. U. M. Mohammed to seven years imprisonment.
The general was found guilty of 14 out of 18 count charges bordering on forgery, misappropriation of funds, and conspiracy, among others.
He was also ordered to refund 217,900 USD and N1.65 billion to the Nigerian Army Properties Ltd.
