The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State issued a final forfeiture order for a parcel of land
The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State, has issued a final forfeiture order for a parcel of land measuring 2348.072 square meters in Enugu State. This land was recovered from Babatunde Said Adeola and Kingsley Ifeanyi Adonu and granted to the Nigerian Government. The ruling was delivered by Justice Kehinde Ogundare on a Monday.
Adeola and Adonu, who are owners of S. Mobile Netzone Limited, Biss Networks Nigeria Limited, and Pristine Networks Mobile Networks Nigeria Limited, presented themselves as telecommunications experts with thriving businesses and joint ventures with MTN Nigeria and other companies. However, a petition alleging conspiracy and the obtaining of N510,000,000 (Five Hundred and Ten Million Naira) against their companies prompted an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The investigation revealed that the petitioners had invested funds in the telecom businesses owned by Adeola and Adonu. However, instead of refunding the petitioners or paying them interest on their investments, the respondents converted the funds for personal use. They acquired various pieces of land across the country, including the property measuring 2348.072 square meters in Enugu State.
In response, the EFCC filed a motion ex parte seeking an interim forfeiture of the property. This motion was supported by a 16-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Adekunbi Mojisola, an investigator with the EFCC. The court granted the interim forfeiture in July 2023 and directed the publication of the order in a national newspaper.
The forfeiture order was published in the Punch newspaper on November 8, 2023, inviting interested parties to show cause why the property should not be forfeited to the Federal Government. With no contestation from any interested parties, the court ordered the final forfeiture of the property on December 13, 2023, following an application filed by the EFCC.
In summary, the Federal High Court has granted the final forfeiture of a parcel of land in Enugu State recovered from Adeola and Adonu to the Nigerian Government. This decision was made after an investigation by the EFCC revealed the conversion of funds intended for telecom businesses into personal use by the respondents. The court’s decision follows due process, including the publication of forfeiture orders and the absence of contestation from interested parties.
Sahara Reporters
