Court orders final forfeiture of lands approved for Goodluck Jonathan Estate to FG

Court

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the permanent forfeiture of a multi billion naira expanse of lands approved for the Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Model Housing Estate to the Federal Government.

Justice Mohammed Umar granted the motion on notice moved by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which was not opposed by the defence lawyer, Hassan Liman, SAN.Justice Umar directed the ICPC, on behalf of the Federal Government, to supervise the construction of the lands to the completion of the 962 housing units as earlier proposed.

The judge held that the supervision should be done in collaboration with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), the sole respondent in the case, and ensure the utilisation of the housing units by end users.

Justice Umar said, “An order is hereby made for the final forfeiture of Plot No. 5 in Cadastral Zone D12, Kaba District, Abuja, measuring approximately 122015.80 m² and valued at N1,944,375,000.00 (one billion, nine hundred forty-four million, three hundred and seventy-five thousand naira).

“An order is hereby made for the final forfeiture of Plot No. 4 in Cadastral Zone D12, Kaba District, Abuja, measuring approximately 157198.30 m² and valued at N3,340,500,000.00 (three billion, three hundred forty million, five hundred thousand naira), suspected of being proceeds of unlawful activity.

“An order is hereby made directing the applicant, through the ICPC, to facilitate the handover of the forfeited properties to the respondent, i.e., the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, being the victim of the alleged unlawful activity.”

Justice Umar, in the ruling delivered on Dec. 11 but the enrolled order sighted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, further directed the ICPC and FMBN to set up a committee whose membership is to be drawn from both agencies to implement the completion of the project.