A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final
forfeiture of the $899,600 recovered from an Abuja apartment allegedly occupied
by a former Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Ibrahim Ahmed Dandija.
Justice Zainab Abubakar, in a judgment on Tuesday, found
that Abdallah Suleiman, who claimed to own the funds, failed to establish his
claim with credible evidence.
Justice Abubakar held that Suleiman failed to supply credible
evidence to sustain his claim that he engaged in chartering of aircraft through
his company, Montes Auri Ltd and that the money was received on behalf of a
company.
The judge however discharged Dandija and Sigma Apartment Ltd
as respondents in the case on the grounds that the applicant – the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) – established no cause of action against
them.
She held that there was no evidence showing any offence
committed by the third respondent (Sigma Apartment), adding that the second
defendant, (Dandija) denied ownership of the funds but admitted merely securing
the apartment on behalf of the first respondent (Suleiman) who paid the rent.
The court had on October 31, 2019, granted an order of
interim forfeiture upon an ex-parte application by the EFCC, through its
lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho.
Iheanacho had told the court that the EFCC received
intelligence bordering on money laundering regarding illicit funds stashed at
Sigma Apartment Ltd. located at Wuse, Abuja.
He added that when the house was searched a safe was found
containing the money.
Iheanacho said investigations revealed that the apartment
was secured by a former SSG to the Bauchi State Government, Dandija, to store
his valuables but that all efforts to get him were unsuccessful as he had
refused to honour the invitation to explain his connection to the money.
He added that Suleiman later came forth to claim the money,
stating that “he engages in chartering of aircraft through his company Montes
Auri Ltd and that the money was received on behalf of a company.”
Iheanacho stated that EFCC’s inquiry at the Federal Airport
Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)
revealed no records of Suleiman’s company and its activities.