Ex-permsec Onubuogo loses N664m to FG

A Lagos federal court on Tuesday ordered a former permanent secretary of the Ministry of Labor, Clement Onubuogo, to confiscate $ 664 million and $ 137,000 from the federal government.  Judge Saliu Seidu granted the order at the resumption of the hearing of an action for confiscation against Onubuogo.  The EFCC board, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, confirmed in his brief the position on the settlement proposal and stated that he would not oppose the withdrawal of the two motions.  He urged the court to strike the motions so that the coast is clear for an amicable settlement.  Meanwhile, Oyedepo told the Court that, on the basis of an agreement between the parties, the EFCC would seek the satisfaction of a previous interim order of the court in respect of two of the properties that the government wanted to confiscate.

The properties are a mansion located at Ikom Quarters, Issala Azegba, Delta, and the property lying and situates at number 19 Madue Nwafor Street off Achala Ibuzor Road, Asaba, Delta.

He then urged the court to only discharge the earlier orders as regards the two properties.

Awana did not oppose the application which then paved way for the EFCC to move its motion for a final forfeiture of the other properties said to have been suspected to be proceeds of illegal act.

Oyedepo told the court that since the defendant has withdrawn their counter affidavit, the prosecution is left with no option than to move the motion for final forfeiture of the remaining properties in its application.
Oyedepo, therefore, urged the court to grant the application for final forfeiture of the properties as contained in prayers 1,2,3 and 4 of the face of the motion papers.

The application was not opposed by the defence counsel.

In his ruling, Justice Saliu Saidu consequently granted the application ordering the defendant to forfeit the sum of N437 million found by EFCC in his possession, and which sum is reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.

The court also ordered the final forfeiture of another N97.3 million found by the commission in the defendant’s account.

In addition, the court ordered a forfeiture of another sum of N129 million and 137,000 dollars found by the commission.#Africa ... spill TEA.... Easy on Shade #jaiyeorie