EFCC seizes N241m, property diverted by official in Buhari SSA’s office

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos has secured the interim forfeiture of N241million traced to an official in the presidency.

The EFCC also got court permission to seize a property at Plot No. 1121, Ekukinam Street in Utako District, Cadastral Zone, Abuja.

The suspect, Abdulsalam Bawa, works in the Account Department in the office of Senior Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State.

The EFCC said the funds and property were reasonably suspected to be the proceeds of Bawa’s unlawful activities.

On Friday, Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, approved the forfeiture following an ex-parte application filed by the commission.

EFCC Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo stated that the money and property was diverted from the Federal Government.

Oyedepo prayed for an order directing the publication of the interim forfeiture in a national newspaper.

Anyone interested is expected to show cause, within 14 days, why final forfeiture should not be made in favour of the Nigerian government.

Justice Oweibo granted all the reliefs sought by the EFCC and ordered the interim forfeiture of the N241million and property.

The judge adjourned the matter until September 6 for final forfeiture hearing.