N1.4bn fraud: Maize growers’ president forfeits houses, $50,000

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N1.4bn fraud: Maize growers’ president forfeits houses, $50,000

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday ordered the forfeiture of seven properties, three vehicles and $50,000 belonging to the National President of the Maize Growers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Prof. Uche Edwin.

Justice Tijjani Ringim made an order for the temporary forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government following an ex parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, said the properties were reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.

The anti-graft agency had on March 16 arraigned Edwin on 11 counts bordering on conspiracy, retention, and conversion of funds to the tune of N1, 473,367,046.04.

EFCC alleged that the money belonged to maize growers and marketers, adding that the defendants committed the offences sometime in 2021 in Lagos.

Edwin was arraigned alongside three firms – Visionary Integrated Consulting Limited, NEMAD Associates Limited, and Revamp Global Enterprise – before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the same court.

In the ex parte application taking before the court on Monday, the EFCC listed properties to be forfeited as “A four-bedroom detached duplex at House 13, Road 2, Setraco at Gwarinpa II Estate, Abuja, purchased at the sum of N120m.

“All the property at Plot 284a, Road 7, No.11 Okeikpe Street, Aladinma Housing Estate, Owerri, Imo State.

“A plot of land at Mkporo Isiojabi, at Umuofor Eziobo, Eziokele Autonomous Community, Owerri West, Imo State.

“A plot of land known as Okwu-Odajuruba (Njikatu), at Umunbiakwa, Umudukwo, Umuagwo in Ohaji/Egbema LGA of Imo State.

“Another plot of land known as Ishiawom Farmland, at Umunebo Obokwu Obinze, Owerri West LGA of Imo State.

“Three Toyota Hilux vehicles worth N34,010,500.

“$50,000 cash in favour of the EFCC Recovery Fund Account.”

The EFCC lawyer, while moving the application, submitted that the court was empowered to grant the forfeiture order under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

In his ruling, Justice Ringim held: “I have perused the motion and the affidavit with the written address just adopted by learned silk for the applicant.

“I’m satisfied with all the averment in the affidavit. Consequently prayers one and two are hereby granted.”

The judge ordered the EFCC to publish the interim order in a national newspaper and gave 14 days for anyone interested in the properties to appear before him to state why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.