UPDATED: Court orders interim forfeiture of properties, funds traced to ex-Gov Yari

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of assets and monies allegedly traced to the immediate past governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari.

Obiora Egwuatu, the judge, gave the order while deciding on an ex-parte request by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, a counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

According to the ICPC, some of the assets are located in the United States of America, Abuja and Kaduna, among others.

Mr Egwuatu held that the interim order granted would last for 60 days to enable the ICPC to conclude its investigation, following which the commission could apply for final forfeiture.

He ordered the anti-graft agency to publicise the order for any person or persons with interest in the affected properties to show cause within 14 days why they should not be permanently forfeited to the Nigerian government.

Mr Yari, who served as governor of banditry-ravaged Zamfara State, North-west Nigeria, has been having a running battle with a sister anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), since he left office in 2019 after serving for eight years.

Mr Yari, who recently vied for the chairmanship position of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has, however, not been charged by the EFCC, which says it is still investigating the matter.

Application

While urging the court to grant the application, ICPC’s lawyer, Mr Akponimisingha, had told the court that ICPC’s preliminary findings showed that the assets were allegedly acquired by Mr Yari with proceeds of crime.

He said some of the properties acquired from Abuja-based EFAB Properties Limited, were paid for with funds allegedly stolen from the coffers of the Zamfara State government.

The lawyer added that the orders sought were meant to preserve the properties and funds in three banks from being dissipated before the conclusion of the investigation.

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Mr Akponimisingha claimed that there were proofs that Yari made an anticipatory declaration of assets in the asset declaration forms he filled while assuming office as Zamfara State governor.

The lawyer recalled that another judge of the same Federal High Court, Ijeoma Ojukwu, had, in January 2021, granted an order of final forfeiture of funds allegedly held in banks by Yari.

Mr Ojukwu had, upon an application by the ICPC, ordered the final forfeiture of the funds held in two banks.

The anti-graft agency had claimed that while $56,056.75 was lodged in one of the bank accounts, the sums of N12.9 million, N11.2 million, $301,319.99; N217,388.04 and $311,872.15 were stashed in other bank accounts in Mr Yari’s name and his firms.