Court Orders Temporary Forfeiture Of N200m Linked To Military Officers, 3 Firms
The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered that the sum of N200 million, allegedly warehoused in some commercial banks by two military officer, and their three companies be temporary forfeited to the federal government.
Justice Sule Hassan gave the order while ruling on an ex-parte application to that effect filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), held that the money should be in the procession of the government pending the outcome of investigation by the anti-graft agency on it.
The EFCC, through one of its counsel, Nkereuwem Anana, had claimed in its ex-parte motion that N200 million was fraudulently withdrew from the Defence Headquarters Over-head expenses accounts by the two officers, Adamu Bello Argungu and John Onimisi Ozigi and their companies.
The commission further stated that the companies are: Falsal & Co Global Services Nigeria Limited; Diamond Head Ventures & Development Company Limited; and Sweetex Bureau De Change Limited.
In an 18-paragraph affidavit attached to the application, deposed to by one of its operative, Clever Ibrahim, the EFCC averred that the two military officers, Adamu Bello Argungu and John Onimisi Ozigi are of the Nigerian Army and Air Force respectively, who made several unauthorized withdrawals from the Defence Headquarters Overhead Expenses Account.
Ibrahim also stated that the money was deposited not in their salary accounts, nor the accounts belonging to the Defence headquarters, but in corporate accounts and other accounts belonging their companies.
He further stated that the accounts where the said money was warehoused are domiciled in Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) account number 0142893798; 0229980366; 0023038546; 0023038553; 00223038539; 0052260716 and 0023673121, belonging to Adamu Bello Argungu and Falsal & Co Gloval Services Limited. While Skye Bank Plc with account numbers: 1060118510 and 4010007344 belonging to John Onimisi Ozigi and his company, Diamond Head Ventures & Development Limited.
He also stated that parts of money was kept in First City Monument Bank (FCMB) account numbers 3584478019 and 3584478026 belonging to Sweetex Bureau De Change Limited. And Zenith Bank Plc, account with 1010260044, 1010399694 and 1000468142 belonging to Diamond Head Ventures.
Furthermore, the deponent stated that John Onimisi Ozigi and his company, Diamond Head Ventures & Development Company Limited kept parts of the money in Skye Bank Plc’s account numbers: 1060118510 and 4010007344 respectively.
Ibrahim also maintained that though, a post-no-debit have been placed on the accounts by the provision of section 6(5) of the Money Laundering and Prohibition Act, 2011, which had lapsed after 72 hours, and that the order of the interim forfeiture was sought to debar the respondents from tampering with the money.