Embattled former Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu has approached a federal high Court in Kano to compel the EFCC to return the seized $9,772,800 and £74,000,000which he said legally belonged to him.
Recall that a court has already ordered that the money be forfeited to the Federal government but Yakubu has urged the Federal High Court in Kano to set aside the forfeiture order it gave last week.
Yakubu who made the request through his counsel Mr. Ahmed Raji, SAN questioned the jurisdiction of the court to even entertain the matter since the alleged crime was committed in Abuja
In his Motion on Notice, Yakubu’s counsel, Raji asserted that “No aspect of the perceived offence in respect of which the Order of 13th February, 2017 was made, was committed within the Kano judicial division of this Honourable Court”.
Also, the stated that the Federal Government lacked the locus-standi to seek the interim order. of the court which was granted on 13th February, 2017.
He said, “By Section 28 of the EFCC Act, only the commission, i.e. the EFCC has the vires to seek an Order for the interim forfeiture of property under the Act. The power of this Honourable Court to make interim forfeiture Order(s) pursuant to Sections 28 & 29 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004 (hereinafter “EFCC Act”) is applicable ONLY to alleged offences charged under the EFCC Act and not to offences cognizable under any other law.
“The ex-parte Order of this Honourable Court dated 13th February, 2017, was made in respect of alleged offences under the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission Act (hereinafter “ICPC Act”) and not the EFCC Act as prescribed by Section 28 & 29 thereof.
“The conditions precedent to the grant of an interim forfeiture Order under Sections 28 & 29 of the EFCC Act were not complied with by the Applicant before the Order was made”
Raji further averred that the combined effect of Sections 28 and 29 of the EFCC Act is that a charge alleging infractions against the provisions of the EFCC Act ought to be brought against a suspect before the powers of this Honourable Court under Sections 28 & 29 of the EFFCC Act, to order for interim forfeiture of property, can be actuated.
According to him, in the absence of a formal charge, no prima facie evidence can be established in order for the provisions of Section 28 and 29 of the EFFCC Act to be actuated.
“In the instant case, no charge was brought against the Respondent/Applicant before the provisions of Section 28 and 29 of the EFCC Act were activated to grant the ex-parte Order of 13th February, 2017.”
Without doubt, millions of Nigerians will be watching to see how this Dollar saga will end given its unique nature.
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