Justice D.E.Osiagor of the Federal High Court
sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday , July 10, 2025, ordered the interim
forfeiture of a property in ljaiye Ojokoro, Lagos State linked to a couple,
Emmanuel Chukwudi Chinyere and Ebere Vivien Chinyere, over alleged obtaining by
false pretence.
The property is located at No. 5/7 Kasali Aremu Street, Abiok Bus Stop, Jankara
ljaiye Ojokoro, Lagos State.
The Judge gave the order, following a motion ex parte
filed and argued by the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, Abdulhamid .L.Tukur.
Moving the application for the interim forfeiture of
the property, Tukur submitted that the Commission received a petition
from one Sunday Nathanel Edi, Managing Director of a registered cosmetic
business, alleging that he transferred the total sum of N189,500,000(One
Hundred and Eighty-Nine Million, Five- Hundred Thousand Naira) to several bank
accounts belonging to a couple, Emmanuel Chukwudi Chinyere and
Ebere Vivien Chinyere, in 2023, to purchase five hectares of land within Owerri,
Imo State, for him to develop as an estate.
A discreet enquiry conducted by the petitioner,
however, revealed that they did not purchase the land, contrary to the
agreement.
Efforts to get a refund, upon confirmation that they
had diverted the money to their personal use, were unsuccessful.
Tukur, while moving the application, told the court
that the property sought to be forfeited “is linked to criminality
perpetrated against the petitioner and that it is reasonably suspected to be
proceeds of crime.”
He, therefore, prayed the court to grant the
application seeking an interim forfeiture of the property, which is
reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, to the petitioner
through the EFCC.
In his ruling, Justice Osiagor granted the
application, and also directed the Commission to publish the interim order in a
national newspaper for any interested party to show cause why the final order
of forfeiture should not be made in favour of the Federal Government of
Nigeria.
The Judge further adjourned the hearing of the motion
for the final forfeiture.
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