Maina Update: Court Orders Interim Forfeiture of 23 of Maina’s Properties to FG
By Shola Akingboye – October 22, 2019
Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday ordered the temporary forfeiture of 23 properties allegedly traced to the former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina.
The order was made sequel to an exparte application filed and argued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina.
The anti-graft agency supported its motion by a 30-paragraph affidavit which it brought pursuant to Section 17 of the Money Laundering Act.
Ruling on the matter, the trial judge granted the prayers of the anti-graft agency.
Justice Ogunbanjo also ordered the anti-graft agency to return to the court on November 19, for the mention of the case.
The court also gave an order directing the publication of the order of interim forfeiture in any national daily newspaper.
The newspaper publication is aimed at inviting any person(s) or body(ies) who may have interest in the assets and properties listed in the schedule to show cause, within 14 days of such publication, why a final order of forfeiture to the Federal Government of the said assets and properties should not be made.
The ex parte motion, which was moved by Mohammed Abubakar alleged that the said properties were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities traced to Maina and his associates.
It was brought pursuant to Section 17(1) and (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.
The property include houses, estates, companies among others located in Abuja, Kaduna, Borno and Nasarawa.