Convicted Fraudster Forfeits N235.5m To Govt
Justice A. M. Liman of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered final forfeiture to the Federal Government of N235.5 million traced to the account of a convicted fraudster, Okeke Obinwanne.
The judge had, on March 23, 2020, ordered the interim forfeiture of the money domiciled in First City Monument Bank, following an ex-parte application dated December 18, 2019 by the Lagos Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In granting the interim forfeiture order, the judge had also ordered the EFCC to advertise the same in any national newspaper for anyone to show cause why the said money should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government.
Following the publication of the order in a national newspaper, the commission, on June 2, 2020, filed a motion on notice seeking the final forfeiture of the money to the government.
During the proceedings on November 12, 2020, counsel to the EFCC, I. Sulaiman, urged the court to grant his prayers for final forfeiture of the money, which is reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
In his ruling, Justice Liman granted the applicant’s prayers and also ordered the final forfeiture of the money to the government.
Okeke, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Invictus Group, was arrested in the United States (U.S.), and charged with computer and wire frauds to which he pleaded guilty.
