The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, January 21, 2025,
arraigned Benjamin Okoye, Moughalu David Arinze, Okey Okeke, Ekene
Mgbeokwere and Eboh Thaddeus on a one-count charge bordering on alleged
tampering with a forfeited property before Justice A.O.Owoeye of the Federal
High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The count reads: "That you, Ilongwo Angela
(NOW AT LARGE), Benjamin Okoye , Moughalu David Arinze, Okey Okeke, Ekene
Mgbeokwere, Eboh Thaddeus, sometime in July, 2024 in Lagos State, within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without due authorization dealt, with
the property of Obinna Ezenwaka situate and located at Plot 165C, Block 12,
Amuwo Odofin, Ajayi Street, Diamond Estate, Amuwo Odofin Lagos, subject of
interim forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria, and you thereby
committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 32(1) of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004."
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charge
preferred against them.
In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel,
Hannatu .U. KofarNaisa, informed the court of the presence of a witness and
that he was ready to proceed with the trial.
Counsel to the first to fourth defendants, M.C. Odo
informed the court of pending bail applications for the defendants and also
prayed the court to move the same. Counsel to fifth defendant, N.
Chukwuemeka, informed the court of the existing bail previously granted to
the defendant.
Odo further prayed the court to admit the defendants
to bail, adding that they had been in prison custody for some time.
However, KofarNaisa, in response, informed the court that she had not
received the bail applications being moved by the counsel to the first to
fourth defendants and that it was not before the court.
The court confirmed it was not in its record.
After listening to both parties, Justice Owoeye fixed
January 24, 2025 for ruling on the bail applications by the defence counsel.
Thereafter, the prosecution counsel called on
Abubarkar Mohammed, an operative of the EFCC, to review the facts of the
case. Mohammed told the court that he works as the custodian
of assets in interim or final forfeiture with the EFCC.
When asked by the prosecution counsel if he knew
defendants, he answered in the affirmative. According to him, “I met them
during the inspection of Plot 165c, Block 12, Diamond Estate, Amuwo
Odofin, Lagos State.
“The EFCC had obtained an interim order of the
property. The Proceeds of Crime Management Unit that takes care of
forfeited assets went to mark the property, with the EFCC written on
it.
“On July 22, 2024 , I led a team to inspect the
property and met the defendants there. I informed them that the property
had been forfeited in the interim and also asked them to leave.”
Continuing , he said: “ They left after much
hassle and the house was put under lock and key.
“Unfortunately, on July 29, 2024 , while conducting a
routine research, I found out that they had broken the padlock and were still
living in the property.” He further told the court that the
defendants were subsequently arrested for tampering with the forfeited assets.
Mohammed , thereafter, identified the
interim forfeiture order secured by the EFCC on October 6, 2017 in respect of
the property .
Counsel to the prosecution sought to tender the
interim order as an exhibit and it was admitted and marked as exhibit
A. When asked to give further testimony about the property, he said there
was an order of notification from the Lagos State High court on the final
forfeiture of the property.
KofarNaisa asked for an adjournment to enable her
to bring documents before the court.
Justice Owoeye adjourned till February 14, 2025 for
continuation of trial.
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